DO" 


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THE 


3Best  Cburcb  ID^mns 


EDITED 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES 


THE  REV.  LOUIS  F.  BENSON,  D.D. 

Editor  of  The  Hymnal  Published  by  Authority  of  the  General 

Assembly  of    The    Presbyterian    Church    in  the 

U.  S.  A.,  and  of  The  Chapel  Hymnal 


PHILADELPHIA 

Zbc  Xdestmtnster  iprees 

1899 


Copyright,  189S, 

By  the  Trustees  of  The  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication 

and  Sabbath-School  Work. 


BY  550-  $4- 


preface 


This  little  book  had  its  origin  in  two  papers 
prepared  at  the  request  of  the  editor  of  The 
Sunday  School  Times,  and  printed  in  that  jour- 
nal in  the  autumn  of  1897.  They  are  now, 
by  his  courteous  permission,  substantially  repro- 
duced here.  As  there  recorded,  the  collation 
covered  ninety-eight  hymn-books,  and  is  now 
brought  down  to  cover  nine  more  not  then  at 
hand  or  since  published.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  this  enlargement  of  the  material 
effected  no  change  in  the  list  of  the  best 
hymns,  except  in  some  cases  a  change  in  their 
relative  order,  and  the  addition  of  one  more 
hymn  to  their  fellowship. 

But  the  better  part  of  the  book  is  the  hymns 
themselves.  As  far  as  practicable  they  are 
printed  as  their  authors  wrote  them ;  such 
accepted  alterations  as  it  seemed  necessary  to 
adopt  being  referred  to  in  the  notes.  The 
text  of  the  hymns  reproduces  in  all  respects 


preface. 


that  prepared  by  the  editor  for  "The  Hymnal" 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  published  in  1895. 
Each  hymn  is  preceded  by  the  title  given  to 
it  by  the  author,  which  often  helps  us  to  read 
the  hymn  from  his  point  of  view ;  and  the 
hymn  is  followed  by  a  very  brief  sketch  setting 
forth  something  of  its  history,  and  by  notes 
intended  to  explain  any  words  which  are  not 
at  once  clear,  as  well  as  to  call  attention  to 
the  Scriptural  allusions  of  the  hymn. 

A  word  of  apology,  perhaps,  should  be 
spoken  for  the  simplicity  of  these  annota- 
tions. They  must  be  understood  as  intended 
to  appeal  to  the  minds  of  the  children,  who,  it 
is  hoped,  may  be  encouraged  to  lay  up  these 
hymns  in  their  memories ;  it  being  the  inten- 
tion of  the  publishers  to  issue  the  pages  con- 
taining the  hymns  and  annotations  apart  from 
the  preliminary  discussions,  for  use  as  a  text- 
book, with  that  desirable  end  in  view. 


Contents 


PAGE 

Preface, ,    .    .  iii 

■ffntro&uction 

I.  What  are  the  Best  Church  Hymns?     .    .  ix 
II.  What  is  To-day  the  Standard  of  the  Best 

Church  Hymns  ? xxi 

1.  Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me 3 

2.  When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross 4 

3.  Jesus,  Lover  of  my  soul 6 

4.  All  praise  to  Thee,  my  God,  this  night    ....  8 

5 .  Jesus,  I  my  cross  have  taken 10 

6.  Sun  of  my  soul,  Thou  Saviour  dear 12 

7.  Awake,  my  soul,  and  with  the  sun 13 

8.  Hark  !   the  herald  angels  sing 15 

9.  Abide  with  me  :  fast  falls  the  eventide    ....  17 

10.  Jerusalem,  my  happy  home 19 

1 1 .  How  sweet  the  Name  of  Jesus  sounds    ....  20 

12.  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee 22 

13.  From  Greenland's  icy  mountains 24 

14.  Our  God,  our  Help  in  ages  past 26 

v 


Contents. 


PAGE 

15.  Jerusalem  the  golden 28 

16.  Lo  !   He  comes,  with  clouds  descending     ...  30 

17.  Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun 32 

18.  Glorious  things  of  thee  are  spoken 34 

19.  Hark,  the  glad  sound  !   the  Saviour  comes  ...  36 

20.  Come,  let  us  join  our  cheerful  songs 37 

21.  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  Name 39 

22.  Hail  to  the  Lord's  Anointed 41 

23.  O  worship  the  King  all  glorious  above     ....  43 

24.  Christ  the  Lord  is  risen  to-day      45 

25.  Guide  me,  O  Thou  Great  Jehovah 46 

26.  Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea 47 

27.  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 49 

28.  Jesus,  the  very  thought  of  Thee 50 

29.  Children  of  the  heavenly  King 52 

30.  There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight 53 

31.  Thou,  whose  almighty  word 55 

32.  Brief  life  is  here  our  portion 57 


Untro&uctfon 


I. 

THUbat  are  tbe  IBcet  Cburcb 
Ib^mns? 


Much  of  what  is  written  upon  the  character 
and  quality  of  our  hymns  fails  either  to  enlighten 
or  convince  ;  and  this  is  because  the  writer,  or, 
it  may  be,  the  reader,  does  not  clearly  distin- 
guish the  two  points  of  view  from  which  hymns 
may  be  regarded  :  for  hymnody  is  at  once  a 
branch  of  literature  and  a  branch  of  liturgies, 
and  the  characteristics  of  a  hymn  are  not  the 
same  in  the  two  departments.  In  literature, 
for  example,  both  Coleridge  and  Shelley  are 
looked  upon  as  skilled  in  the  right  use  of 
English  words,  and  the  one  published  a  "Hymn 
before  Sunrise  in  the  Vale  of  Chamouni,"  and 
the  other,  a  "  Hymn  to  Intellectual  Beauty  "  ; 
yet,  from  the  liturgical  point  of  view,  these 
pieces  are  not  in  any  sense  to  be  recognized  as 
hymns.     Again,    a    piece    of    verse,    properly 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ibgmne. 


spoken  of,  from  a  liturgical  point  of  view,  as 
"a.  good  hymn,"  may  seem  to  a  mere  literary 
critic  quite  unworthy  of  any  such  distinction. 
The  methods  and  ends  of  poetic  literature  are 
one  thing,  and  the  uses  of  God's  house  are 
another,  and,  while  they  do  not  necessarily 
conflict,  they  do  establish  differing  scales  of 
excellence,  and  they  do  demand  differing  cri- 
teria of  judgment.  Unless  we  are  to  have  con- 
fusion, one  or  the  other  point  of  view  should 
be  distinctly  chosen,  and  then  persistently 
maintained. 

The  title  of  this  book  suggests  that  we  are 
dealing  now  with  hymns  for  Church  use,  and 
that  among  such  hymns  we  are  seeking  the 
best.  But  the  mere  announcement  of  that 
point  of  view  is  not  enough.  It  must  be  ad- 
hered to.  And  just  here  it  is  that  confusion 
so  often  creeps  in.  Some  one  starts  out  to  test 
the  quality  of  Church  hymns,  and  then  at  once 
proceeds  to  test  them,  not  by  a  study  of  the 
actual  experience  of  the  Church  in  their  use, 
but  by  applying  to  them  his  personal  opinions 
and  judgment  of  what  a  good  hymn  ought  to 
be.  He  is  followed  by  other  critics,  each  with 
the  same  aim  and  method,  but  with  differing 
judgments,  and  each  one  discovers  the  hymns 


UntroDuctton, 


that  are  best — in  his  opinion.  Out  of  it  all 
comes  confusion,  and  no  standard  is  estab- 
lished but  the  fluctuating  one  of  personal 
preference. 

And  now,  when  an  interest  in  hymns  is  so 
widely  felt,  is  a  good  time  to  insist  that  the 
quality  of  a  Church  hymn  cannot  be  deter- 
mined in  that  way.  The  hymn  is  the  people's 
share  in  God's  praise,  and  is  intended  for  con- 
gregational use.  It  can  be  tested  only  by  the 
results  of  actual  use  in  the  worship  of  the 
Church  ;  and  to  propose  any  other  test  (such  as 
the  opinions  of  critics)  is,  again,  to  confound 
literature  with  liturgies.  In  the  case  of  an 
untried  hymn,  no  man  can  say  that  it  will 
prove  to  be  "a  good  hymn."  In  the  case  of 
hymns  that  have  been  fully  offered  to  the 
Church,  and  set  before  her  to  sing,  and  yet 
have  failed  to  attain  any  real  position  in  her 
hymnody,  that  result  may  be  said  to  mark  the 
end  of  their  career  as  hymns.  Such  hymns, 
having  been  actually  tried  by  the  only  com- 
petent tribunal,  have,  for  some  reason  or  other, 
possibly  for  none  that  is  quite  apparent,  been 
found  wanting.  Here  and  there  a  hymn-book 
editor,  with  a  happy  knack,  may  light  upon 
one  of  them  which  he  thinks  has  not  had  a 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


fair  trial,  and  he  may  even  start  it  upon  a  new 
career,  mated  to  some  tune  that  shall  help  it 
at  last  to  win  its  way  to  the  hearts  of  God's 
worshippers.  But  this  is  not  to  change  the  tri- 
bunal which  decides  the  ultimate  fate  of  all 
hymns.  It  is  only  to  gain  a  new  hearing  before 
that  same  tribunal  in  the  specific  case.  And 
from  the  decision  of  that  tribunal  there  is  no 
appeal  in  the  matter  of  hymns. 

A  good  hymn  is  one  that  commends  itself 
to  the  Church,  voices  the  religious  feeling  of 
the  worshippers,  and  stands  the  test  of  congre- 
gational use.  And  just  because  God's  people 
in  all  the  different  branches  of  the  Church 
make  but  one  larger  congregation,  with  com- 
mon needs  and  feelings,  therefore  the  only 
hymns  we  are  entitled  to  call  "  the  best  Church 
hymns  ' '  are  those  which  commend  themselves 
to  this  larger  congregation,  and  have  come  into 
actual  use  over  the  widest  area,  and  by  consent 
of  the  largest  number  of  Christians  in  the  dif- 
ferent Churches.  A  so-called  gospel  hymn, 
which  has  temporary  vogue  in  certain  quarters, 
but  which  the  great  bodies  of  Christians  reject 
from  their  worship,  is  not  one  of  the  best 
hymns.  A  wooden  translation  from  the  Latin, 
dear  to  the  advanced  section  of  the  Anglican 


■(Introduction. 


Church,  is  not  one  of  the  best  hymns.  Neither 
are  our  own  personal  favorites  necessarily  en- 
titled to  that  distinction,  which  only  the  Church 
at  large  can  confer. 

If,  then,  the  Church  alone  decides  which 
hymns  are  the  best,  and  her  decision  is  neces- 
sarily final,  what  remains  to  us  is  the  simple 
finding  of  the  individual  hymns  which,  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  have  won  widest  approval  and 
largest  use.  It  would  be  interesting  in  several 
ways  if  we  could  pick  them  out  of  the  mass, 
if  we  could  get  before  us  a  group  of  hymns 
which,  according  to  our  definition,  are  beyond 
a  doubt  •'•  the  best  Church  hymns." 

The  only  practicable  way  of  doing  this  is  by 
the  study  of  the  hymn-books  in  present  use  in 
the  Churches.  These  books,  in  the  case  of 
each  denomination,  are  the  last  of  a  series 
which  have  been  successively  used  there.  They 
have  grown  up  by  a  slow  process  of  dealing  with 
hymns,  by  way  of  selection  and  addition. 
They  contain  all  the  hymns  now  actually  sung 
in  their  worship.  By  taking  the  whole  number 
of  these  hymn-books,  then,  we  have  the  entire 
body  of  hymns  in  actual  use  in  the  Church 
worship  of  English-speaking  Christians.  And, 
by  collating  their  contents,  we  could  determine 


Gbe  $est  Cburcb  Ib^mng. 


what  hymns  are  common  to  a  smaller  or  greater 
number  of  books.  Giving  to  each  book  one 
vote,  the  number  of  books  in  which  a  given 
hymn  is  found  would  determine  the  status  of 
that  hymn  in  the  whole  English-speaking 
Church,  and  we  should  finally  arrive  at  a  group 
of  hymns  which,  being  found  in  the  widest 
actual  use,  are  properly  called  "  the  best  Church 
hymns." 

This  collation,  however  fascinating,  is  a 
painful  task.  Fortunately  it  has  been  largely 
done  for  us  already. 

i.  Dr.  Robert  Ellis  Thompson*  has  made 
such  a  collation  of  thirty  representative  hymn- 
books  of  the  different  bodies  of  Christians  in 
the  United  States,  "certifying  which  hymns 
have  received  the  votes  of  the  seven  chief 
Churches  of  American  Protestantism. ' '  These 
hymns,  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  in  number, 
are  our  American  candidates  for  the  distinction 
of  being  the  best  hymns. 


♦The  National  Hymn-book  of  the  American  Churches  :  com- 
prising the  hymns  which  are  common  to  the  hymnaries  of  the 
Baptists,  Congregationalists,  Episcopalians,  Lutherans,  Meth- 
odists, Presbyterians,  and  Reformed,  with  the  most  usual  tunes. 
Edited  by  Robert  Ellis  Thompson,  S.T.D.  Philadelphia :  John 
D  Wattles,  1893. 


IFntrofcuction. 


2.  Mr.  King*  has  done  a  like  work  for  the 
Anglican  Church,  collating  fifty-two  collections 
chosen  as  representative  of  the  hymn-books 
used  in  that  Church,  and  its  branches  in  Scot- 
land, Ireland,  and  the  Colonies,  f  His  list  of 
hymns,  as  representing  at  once  the  English  and 
the  liturgical  points  of  view,  may  be  set  against 
Dr.  Thompson's.  It  will  then  appear  that  out 
of  Dr.  Thompson's  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
hymns,  forty-eight  are  not  found  in  Mr.  King's 
list,  reducing  the  number  of  our  candidates  to 
one  hundred  and  six. 

3.  These  two  collations  I  have  supplemented 
by  a  third,  covering  one  recent  Church  of 
England  collection,  twelve  representative  books 
used  in  the  Church  of  Scotland  and  in  the 
Nonconformist  Churches  of  England,  Scotland, 
and  Canada,  and  twelve  important  American 


*  Anglican  Hymnology.  Being  an  account  of  the  325  standard 
hymns  of  the  highest  merit  according  to  the  verdict  of  the 
whole  Anglican  Church.  By  James  King,  M.A.  London : 
Hatchards,  Picadilly,  1885. 

fFor  some  unexplained  reason,  Mr.  King  has  included 
among  his  fifty-two  books  several  which  are  Nonconformist  in 
origin  and  use.  In  some  other  respects  his  choice  of  books  is 
not  altogether  satisfactory  ;  but  owing  to  the  proposed  revision 
of  several  of  the  most  important  collections,  the  time  has  not 
yet  come  to  make  a  fresh  collation  of  Anglican  hymnals. 

xv 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


books  published,  most  of  them,  since  the  date 
of  Dr.  Thompson's  list.* 

The  whole  number  of  books  collated  is  thus 
brought  up  to  one  hundred  and  seven.  As  we 
are  seeking  the  hymns  in  widest  use  only,  we 
may  take  eighty  per  cent,  as  the  proportion  of 
books  in  which  a  given  hymn  must  occur  to 
attain  the  first  rank ;  and  we  then  find  no  less 


*The  titles  of  the  collections  collated  by  Mr.  King  and  Dr. 
Thompson  may  be  found  in  their  respective  books.  It  is 
proper,  however,  that  the  names  of  those  included  in  this 
newer  collation  should  here  be  given. 

Anglican— Be\\  and  Fox's  "  Church  of  England  Hymnal  "  ; 

Scottish— "  The  Scottish  Hymnal,"  "The  Free  Church 
Hymnal,"  "  The  Presbyterian  Hymnal"  ; 

English  Baptist  —  "The  Baptist  Hymnal,"  Spurgeon's, 
"  Psalms  and  Hymns  " ; 

English  Congregational— Allon's,  Horder's,  "  The  Congre- 
gational Church  Hymnal "  ; 

English  Presbyterian—''  Church  Praise  "  ; 

Canadian  Presbyterian — "  The  Book  of  Praise  "  ; 

English  Methodist—''  The  Methodist  Hymn-book  "  ; 

American  Presbyterian — "The  Hymnal"  of  1895,  "The 
Chapel  Hymnal,"  "  Hymns  of  the  Ages  "  ; 

American  Baptist—"  Sursum  Corda  "  ; 

American  Cotigregational—"1  The  Hymnal  for  use  in  Con- 
gregational Churches  "  ; 

American  Methodist  —  "Hymn-book  of  M.  E.  Church" 
(South) ; 

American  Episcopalian — "  The  Hymnal"  of  1892; 

American  Independent  Collections  — "  The  New  Laudes 
Domini,"  "The  Plymouth  Hymnal,"  "The  Coronation 
Hymnal,"  "In  Excelsis,"  "Church  Hymns  and  Gospel 
Songs." 


■ffntrofcuctfon. 


than  thirty-two  of  our  one  hundred  and  six 
hymns  fulfilling  that  requirement.  In  view  of 
the  diversities  of  creed,  ritual,  and  taste  repre- 
sented in  these  hymn-books,  this  is  a  remark- 
able result.  It  seems  not  unreasonable  or 
unsafe  to  say  that  at  the  present  time  we 
may  call  these  thirty-two  "the  best  Church 
hymns." 

The  following  list  gives  their  first  lines  and 
the  number  of  votes  for  each  : 

1.  Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me  (106). 

2.  When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross  (104). 

3.  Jesus,  Lover  of  my  soul  (104). 

4.  All  praise  to  Thee,  my  God,  this  night  (103). 

5.  Jesus,  I  my  cross  have  taken  (103). 

6.  Sun  of  my  soul,  Thou  Saviour  dear  (103). 

7.  Awake,  my  soul,  and  with  the  sun  (101). 

8.  Hark!   the  herald  angels  sing  (ioi). 

9.  Abide  with  me  :  fast  falls  the  eventide  (ioi). 

10.  Jerusalem,  my  happy  home  (ioi). 

11.  How  sweet  the  Name  of  Jesus  sounds  (101). 

12.  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee  (100). 

13.  From  Greenland's  icy  mountains  (100). 

14.  Our  God,  our  Help  in  ages  past  (100). 

15.  Jerusalem  the  golden  (99). 

16.  Lo !   He  comes  with  clouds  descending  (94). 

17.  Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun  (94). 

18.  Glorious  things  of  thee  are  spoken  (93). 

19.  Hark  the  glad  sound  !   the  Saviour  comes  (92). 
2  xvii 


Gbe  $e0t  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


20.  Come,  let  us  join  our  cheerful  songs  (92). 

21.  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  Name  (92). 

22.  Hail  to  the  Lord's  Anointed  (91). 

23.  O  worship  the  King  (91). 

24.  Christ  the  Lord  is  risen  to-day  (90). 

25.  Guide  me,  O  Thou  Great  Jehovah  (90). 

26.  Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea  (90). 

27.  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way  (90). 

28.  Jesus,  the  very  thought  of  Thee  (89). 

29.  Children  of  the  heavenly  King  (87). 

30.  There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight  (87). 

31.  Thou  whose  almighty  word  (86). 

32.  Brief  life  is  here  our  portion  (86). 

We  may  read  this  list  with  much  satisfaction, 
with  a  new  confidence  also  in  the  tribunal 
which  gave  such  a  decision.  Time  will  work 
changes  in  this  list,  but  it  seems  likely  that 
they  will  be  by  way  of  addition  rather  than  of 
subtraction.  Heber's  "Holy,  Holy,  Holy, 
Lord  God  Almighty  !  "  and  Newman's  "  Lead, 
kindly  Light,"  for  instance,  will,  apparently 
very  soon,  range  with  these  others.  But  of 
the  thirty-two,  few,  indeed,  seem  likely  to  be 
superseded  in  our  time.  None  could  now  be 
spared.  A  competent  editor  of  a  hymn-book 
for  Church  use  at  the  present  time  would  hesi- 
tate before  omitting  any  one  of  them.  They 
are  indeed  the  best  Church  hymns. 


■ffntroouctfon. 


And  now  that  we  have  them  clearly  before 
us,  two  uses  of  this  list  suggest  themselves. 

i.  A  duty  is  suggested  to  those  who  are  con- 
cerned in  the  conduct  of  public  worship. — The 
leader  of  public  worship  has  few  responsibilities 
greater  than  the  choice  of  hymns  to  be  sung. 
The  influence  of  familiar  hymns  is  very  great, 
and  these  certainly  would  seem  to  be  the  hymns 
that  should  become  familiar  by  a  reasonably 
frequent  use. 

2.  An  opportunity  is  suggested  to  those  who 
are  interested  in  the  religious  training  of  child- 
hood.— How  could  more  be  done  for  the  spirit- 
ual enrichment  of  a  child  than  by  storing  its 
memory  with  the  best  hymns  ?  If  the  good 
old  custom  of  memorizing  hymns  has  fallen 
into  abeyance,  it  may  have  been  from  the 
embarrassment  of  riches,  the  discouraging 
length  of  the  list  of  available  hymns.  But 
here  is  a  short  list  of  the  best  only,  presenting 
a  task  not  too  great  for  the  average  scholar, 
making  frequent  review  possible,  and  offering 
a  treasure  which  will  grow  only  the  greater  as 
life  lengthens  out,  and  until  its  close. 

"It  is  not  surely  a  thought  to  be  lightly 
passed  over,"  as  Mr.  Ellerton  has  said;  "it  is 
not  without  a  lesson  of  deep  significance  for 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  1b£mns. 


us  all,  that  our  Divine  Master  sustained  His 
spirit  upon  His  awful  deathbed,  not  with  any- 
new  utterance  of  devotion,  not  with  aspirations 
coming  fresh  from  the  lips  of  Him  who  spake 
as  never  man  spake,  but  with  the  familiar  words 
of  His  Church's  Psalmody,  the  broken  frag- 
ments of  the  Hymnal  of  His  Childhood." 

It  will  be  of  interest  also  to  examine  the 
hymns  included  in  our  list,  so  as  to  gain  an 
impression  of  what  the  qualities  are  which 
make  up  the  standard  of  a  hymn  that  the 
Church  approves  and  loves  to  use. 


II. 


Wbat  is  to&a?  tbe  Stan&arfc  of 
tbe  Beet  Cburcb  Ib^mns? 


We  have  now  reached  an  understanding  as 
to  what  may  rightly  be  called  "  The  best 
Church  hymns."  We  have  seen  that,  while 
every  one  is  at  liberty  to  choose  the  hymns 
that  are  best  to  him,  only  the  Church  decides 
which  are  the  best  Church  hymns.  The  Church 
hymn  is  intended  for  Church  use,  and  the  best 
hymns  are  those  which  do,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
fulfil  that  use  ;  those,  in  other  words,  which 
have  won  the  widest  approval  and  use  by  the 
Church. 

We  have  before  us  a  list  of  the  thirty-two 
best  hymns.  What  remains  is  to  examine  the 
characteristics  of  these  hymns,  so  as  to  gain  an 
answer  to  the  question,  What  is  to-day  the 
standard  of  the  best  Church  hymns  ? 

Of  these  thirty-two   hymns,  only  two   are 


£be  JBest  Cburcb  f)Emna. 


of  the  seventeenth  century, — Bishop  Ken's 
"Awake,  my  soul,  and  with  the  sun,"  and  his 
"All  praise  to  Thee,  my  God,  this  night." 

Of  the  eighteenth  century,  Dr.  Watts  leads 
with  five, — "When  I  survey  the  wondrous 
cross,"  "Our  God,  our  Help  in  ages  past," 
"Come,  let  us  join  our  cheerful  songs," 
"Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun,"  and 
"There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight."  Charles 
Wesley  follows  with  four, — "Jesus,  Lover  of 
my  soul,"  "Hark!  the  herald  angels  sing," 
"Christ  the  Lord  is  risen  to-day,"  and  "  Lo ! 
He  comes  with  clouds  descending."  John 
Newton,  with  two, — "How  sweet  the  Name 
of  Jesus  sounds,"  and  "Glorious  things  of 
thee  are  spoken."  And  these  others  with  one 
each  :  Toplady,  "  Rock  of  Ages ' '  ;  Doddridge, 
"  Hark  the  glad  sound  !  the  Saviour  comes"  ; 
Perronet,  "All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus' 
Name ' '  ;  Cowper,  ' '  God  moves  in  a  myste- 
rious way"  ;  Williams,  "Guide  me,  O  Thou 
Great  Jehovah  "  ;  and  Cennick,  "  Children  of 
the  heavenly  King." 

Of  the  nineteenth  century,  Lyte  leads  with 
two:  "Abide  with  me,"  and  "Jesus,  I  my 
cross  have  taken  "  ;  and  these  writers  have  one 
each:    Keble,    "Sun  of  my  soul";    Adams, 


Kntrofcuctfon. 


"  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee  "  ;  Heber,  "  From 
Greenland's  icy  mountains";  Montgomery, 
"  Hail  to  the  Lord's  Anointed  "  ;  Grant,  "  O 
worship  the  King";  Marriott,  "  Thou  whose 
almighty  word";  Elliott,  "Just  as  I  am"; 
and  the  anonymous  recast  of  an  older  hymn, 
'-Jerusalem,  my  happy  home." 

Of  the  nineteenth  century  also  are  three  ver- 
sions of  Latin  hymns  :  Neale's  "Jerusalem  the 
golden,"  and  "Brief  life  is  here  our  portion"; 
and  Caswall's  "Jesus,  the  very  thought  of 
Thee." 

The  first  thing  the  reading  of  this  list  suggests 
is  the  catholicity  of  the  Church's  judgment ; 
for  Roman,  Anglican,  Independent,  Moravian, 
Wesleyan,  and  Unitarian,  alike,  are  allowed 
to  contribute  to  it.  The  Church's  unity,  in- 
deed, is  foreshadowed  in  her  hymnody. 

One  is  impressed  also  with  the  absence  from 
this  list  of  all  recent  hymns.  The  latest  of 
them  was  in  print  by  1 85 1 .  At  first,  this  would 
seem  to  indicate  the  judgment  of  the  Church 
that  in  hymnody  "  the  old  is  better. "  But  the 
fact  is  rather  that  a  hymn  makes  its  way  slowly ; 
and  naturally  it  takes  a  great  while  for  any 
hymn  to  attain  a  use  so  general  and  widespread, 
and  among  so  many  branches  of  the  Church. 


Gbe  ;©est  Cburcb  1bv>mns. 


i.  Seeking  now  the  characteristics  of  these 
"best  Church  hymns,"  we  may  begin  with 
their  lyrical  quality.  They  are  adapted  for 
setting  to  music  and  singing.  With  the  ex- 
ception, perhaps,  of  Watts's  "Jesus  shall 
reign,"  you  would  choose  to  sing  them  rather 
than  to  read  them.  We  put  this  lyrical  quality 
first,  as  most  naturally  to  be  expected  of  a 
hymn.  But,  historically,  it  was  by  no  means 
the  first  to  be  insisted  upon.  Our  fathers 
began  with  versions  of  the  Psalms  which  were 
anything  but  lyrical,  and  the  hymns  which 
succeeded  them  were  often  hardly  more  sing- 
able. Some  of  these  linger  yet.  Watts's 
"  Go,  preach  My  gospel  "  is  as  honest  prose  as 
man  ever  wrote.  And  in  the  case  of  a  class  of 
hymns,  such  as  "  'Tis  a  point  I  long  to  know  " 
and  "  How  sad  our  state  by  nature  is,"  nothing 
but  an  inherited  tradition  could  account  for  a 
proposal  to  sing  any  one  of  them.  Gradually, 
with  the  growth  of  musical  feeling,  the  heavy 
hymns  are  being  left  behind.  Already  the 
Church  has  decided  that  only  lyrics  can  find  a 
place  among  the  best  hymns. 

2.  We  note  again  the  literary  excellence  of 
all  these  hymns.  No  less  than  eleven  of  the 
thirty-two  are  included   by  Mr.    Palgrave  in 


■(Introduction. 


his  very  exclusive  "Treasury"  as  literature, 
"  poetry  for  poetry's  sake  "  ;  and  three  others 
by  Mr.  Stedman  in  his  "Victorian  An- 
thology" (including  "Nearer,  my  God,  to 
Thee,"  the  faultiest  of  them  all,  but  saved,  in 
an  art  sense,  by  the  beauty  of  its  interwoven 
refrain).  One  other,  "  When  I  survey,"  etc., 
Matthew  Arnold  considered  the  finest  hymn 
in  the  language.  And  of  the  remainder, 
representing  such  writers  as  Wesley,  Watts, 
Heber,  Montgomery,  Cowper,  Caswall,  Neale, 
and  Grant,  there  is  none  without  distinct  liter- 
ary merit. 

Analyzing  this  literary  excellence,  we  find 
that  each  one  has  a  single  theme,  giving  unity 
to  the  hymn  ;  and  a  proper  development  of  it, 
giving  life  and  movement  to  the  verses  (the 
weaker  and  less  sung  verses  of  "Jesus,  Lover 
of  my  soul"  being  an  exception).  These 
themes  are  poetically  sound,  and  their  treat- 
ment is  interesting.  The  language  is  refined 
and  beautiful,  the  images  happy  (with  an  occa- 
sional lapse,  as  in  the  unfortunate  "stony 
griefs"  of  "Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee"). 
And  in  all,  and  over  all,  that  winning  grace  of 
simplicity.  Simplicity  always  stands  for  much, 
but  in  a  hymn,  which  must  have  the  gift  of  a 


Gbe  JBeet  Cburcb  Ibsmns. 


quick  appeal  to  many  differing  minds,  simplicity 
stands  for  fundamentals. 

Literary  excellence,  then,  is  a  marked  com- 
mon feature  of  the  best  hymns.  This  means 
that  the  Church  at  large  has  not  accepted  a 
hymn  of  inferior  literary  qualities,  and  in  view 
of  the  advance  of  general  culture,  it  leaves  the 
very  comfortable  assurance  that  she  never  will. 

3.  We  note  again  that  each  of  these  hymns 
has  liturgical  propriety,  both  in  the  subject 
matter  and  in  the  form.  They  keep  within 
the  subjects  proper  to  public  devotions,  but 
within  that  limit  they  range  freely  through  the 
whole  sphere  of  worship.  Now,  praise  is  the 
chief  act  of  worship,  but  it  is  by  no  means  the 
only  one.  Prayer  is  an  act  of  worship,  and 
the  expression  of  our  aspirations  is  an  act  of 
worship.  These  hymns  include  both.  The 
element  of  praise  is  not  quite  absent  from  any 
one  of  them,  perhaps,  but  not  many  could  be 
classed  as  technically  hymns  of  praise.  This 
fact  has  its  own  importance  just  now ;  for,  in 
the  reaction  from  the  use  of  sentimental  and 
egotistical  hymns  that  make  much  of  ourselves 
and  little  of  God  and  His  Christ,  quite  a  party 
has  grown  up  which  maintains  that  the  only 
proper  theme  of  a  hymn  is  the  adoration  and 


flntrofcuctfon. 


praise  of  God.  Didactics  and  invitation, 
supplication  and  intercession,  they  say,  are 
provided  for  elsewhere  in  the  service,  and  they 
would  return  to  the  definition  of  St.  Augustine, 
that  hymns  are  ' '  the  praises  of  God  with  song. ' ' 
Welcome  as  is  the  reaction,  the  movement, 
while  in  the  right  direction,  is  too  radical.  It 
needs  to  be  corrected  by  the  verdict  of  the 
Church.  And  this  verdict  must  settle  the 
liturgical  office  of  a  hymn.  A  good  hymn  is 
not  necessarily  a  form  of  pure  praise,  but  rather 
a  form  of  worship,  and  it  may  take  its  theme 
from  any  of  the  proper  parts  of  public  worship. 

Let  us  go  now  a  little  deeper,  to  look  for  the 
spiritual  qualities  which  have  given  these  hymns 
so  long  a  life,  so  universal  acceptance.  These 
seem  especially  to  be  two.  One  of  them  is 
reverence,  and  the  other  is  reality. 

4.  That  tone  of  reverence  pervades  every 
one  of  these  hymns.  It  sounds  all  the  way 
from  the  majestic  heights  of  Watts' s  "Our  God, 
our  Help  in  ages  past,"  which  celebrates  His 
eternity  and  unchangeableness,  to  the  familiar 
levels  of  Ken's  morning  and  evening  hymns, 
in  which  the  little  things  of  life  are  brought 
into  that  same  august  Presence.  Any  one  can 
test  this  quality  of  reverence   for  himself,  in 


XLbc  West  Cburcb  t)gmns. 


several  ways.  The  most  natural  way  would 
be  to  read  or  sing  the  hymns  over,  and  observe 
the  effect  upon  himself,  how  that  they  clothe 
his  own  mood  with  reverence.  Another  way, 
more  effective,  if  one  cared  to  try  it,  were  that 
of  singing  any  of  these  hymns  to  trivial  melo- 
dies, in  rapid  time  and  with  careless  manner. 
But  the  test  is  rather  that  one  would  not  care 
to  do  that.  The  quality  of  the  hymn  makes 
the  performance  irreverent. 

And  it  is,  no  doubt,  this  quality  of  reverence 
which  gives  to  a  hymn  its  hymnic  character, 
makes  it  suitable  for  use  in  the  Church's  wor- 
ship. Whether  it  be  directly  addressed  to 
God,  or  whether  it  be  in  the  form  of  praise  or 
of  prayer,  is  not  the  real  test  of  the  hymn's 
fitness,  but  whether  it  be  of  the  quality  of 
reverence.  And  just  here,  just  where  the  best 
hymns  are  strong,  is  where  so  many  of  the 
hymns  which  are  in  current  evangelistic  use 
begin  to  fail.  They  fail  in  other  things,  but 
they  begin  to  fail  at  the  very  foundation  ;  for 
in  the  worship  of  God  there  is  no  other  foun- 
dation laid  than  is  already  laid, — in  reverence. 
And  a  hymn  may  not  be  so  gross  as  to  be 
irreverent,  and  yet  it  may  lack  reverence, — in 
conception  and  in  expression,  and  especially 


UntroDuction. 


in  the  feelings  it  tends  to  excite  in  those  who 
sing  or  hear  it.  A  hymn  may  lack  reverence, 
but  a  good  hymn  cannot  lack  it.  The  best 
hymns  are  thrilled  with  it  through  and  through. 

5.  Then  there  is  that  other  of  these  deeper 
qualities  which  are  common  to  all  our  group, 
the  quality  of  spiritual  reality.  It  has  two 
sides, — one  turned  outward  toward  the  world 
of  things  spiritual,  the  side  of  truth,  and  one 
turned  inward  toward  spiritual  experience.,  the 
side  of  sincerity.  And  only  so  would  God  be 
worshipped, — in  sincerity  and  in  truth.  A 
hymn,  therefore,  as  an  acceptable  act  of  wor- 
ship, must  be  true  to  facts  and  must  be  sincerely 
spoken  by  the  singers. 

There  are  untrue  hymns ;  and  an  untrue 
hymn  is  no  better  because  the  misrepresentations 
are  veiled  under  poetic  diction.  Addison's 
"How  are  Thy  servants  blessed,  O  Lord," 
(in  the  altered  form  as  used  in  the  hymn- 
books)  and  Draper's  "Ye  Christian  heralds, 
go  proclaim  "  (as  generally  used,  in  the  original 
text),  are  examples  of  untrue  hymns.  And 
there  are  many  hymns  which,  put  into  the 
mouths  of  an  ordinary  congregation,  are  quite 
insincere, — the  hymns,  for  example,  which 
express  a  desire  for  immediate  death,  or,  more 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ibgmns. 


generally,  which  say  to  God  things  which  the 
singers  do  not  feel  or  do  not  believe.  A  con- 
gregation will  sing  such  hymns  thoughtlessly, 
if  they  are  set  to  music  that  is  seductive ; 
but  certainly  it  is  a  serious  responsibility  to 
place  such  hymns  in  the  Order  of  Worship. 

There  are  untrue  hymns  and  insincere  hymns, 
but  the  best  Church  hymns,  as  they  are  now  set 
before  us,  are  neither.  They  are  marked  by 
spiritual  reality.  They  express,  that  is  to  say, 
spiritual  truths  which  are  within  the  people's 
apprehension,  and  sound  spiritual  feelings  which 
are  not  beyond  the  experience  of  the  average 
Christian  worshiper.  This  is  true  of  them  in 
a  very  marked  degree  ;  but  are  there  no  excep- 
tions? We  turn  instinctively  to  the  ''New 
Jerusalem  hymns," — "Jerusalem  the  golden" 
and  "Jerusalem,  my  happy  home."  Canon 
Kingsley  protested  against  such  hymns  as  un- 
real, but  surely  it  is  carrying  "the  manly  and 
robust ' '  type  of  religion  pretty  far  to  exclude 
aspirations  after  heaven  from  our  Christian 
hymnody.  It  is  rather  the  class  of  hymns 
represented  by  Faber's  "  O  Paradise"  that  are 
open  to  such  objection.  It  is  interesting  to  com- 
pare this  recast  ("  Jerusalem,  my  happy  home," 
probably  Montgomery's)  with  the  earlier  "  O 


•ffntroouctton. 


mother  dear,  Jerusalem,"  on  which  it  is  based, 
just  to  see  how  the  right  feeling  of  the  recaster 
has  given  reality  to  what  was  hardly  more  than 
a  mood  of  individualistic  transcendentalism, 
having  poetic  truth  rather  than  congregational 
fitness. 

This  spiritual  reality  in  the  substance,  and 
not  a  mere  plural  form,  is  what  makes  a  hymn 
congregational :  which  fact  has  its  importance 
to  us  who  are  so  often  reminded  that  a  good 
hymn  must  use  the  plural  forms  '•'  we,  us,  our," 
and  not  "I,  me,  mine."  Our  list  contradicts 
the  dictum.  Many  of  these  hymns  use  the 
singular  pronouns  throughout,  but  they  are 
still  the  best  congregational  hymns, — con- 
gregational because  they  express  experiences 
natural  and  proper  to  the  average  Christian. 
And  if  they  express  them  in  an  individual 
form,  they  are  all  the  more  true  to  life ;  for  our 
spiritual  experiences  also  are  individual. 

With  this  last  note,  the  answer  to  our  ques- 
tion, What  is  to-day  the  standard  of  our  best 
Church  hymns  ?  seems  to  be  complete.  These 
are  the  five  elements  which  enter  into  that 
standard:  First,  the  lyrical  quality;  second, 
literary  excellence  :  third,  liturgical  propriety; 
fourth,  reverence  ;   fifth,  spiritual  reality. 


Gbe  36e6t  Gburcb  D^mns. 


It  was  interesting  to  discover  which  hymns 
are  the  best ;  and,  if  our  examination  of  them 
is  careful  and  true,  it  is  an  added  gain  to  know 
what  it  is  that  makes  them  best.  The  verdict 
of  the  Church  is  conclusive,  but  it  covers  only 
the  hymns  old  enough  to  have  secured  a  full 
and  wide  trial.  We  are  left  more  to  our  own 
judgment  in  dealing  with  the  great  body  of 
more  recent  hymns,  and  from  that  very  fact 
arises  the  advantage  in  determining  the  stand- 
ard of  the  hymns  known  to  be  the  best,  so  that 
we  may  measure  the  newer  candidates  for  favor 
by  that  same  standard. 


Zhc  Ib^mns 


\  H  Xtving  anb  D^ino  prater  for  tbe 
Ifcoitest  believer  in  tbe  Mortt>. 

ROCK  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  Thee ; 
Let  the  water  and  the  blood, 
From  Thy  riven  side  which  flowed, 
Be  of  sin  the  double  cure, 
Cleanse  me  from  its  guilt  and  power. 

2  Not  the  labors  of  my  hands 
Can  fulfil  Thy  law's  demands  ; 
Could  my  zeal  no  respite  know, 
Could  my  tears  for  ever  flow, 
All  for  sin  could  not  atone  ; 
Thou  must  save,  and  Thou  alone. 

3  Nothing  in  my  hand  I  bring, 
Simply  to  Thy  cross  I  cling  ; 
Naked,  come  to  Thee  for  dress, 
Helpless,  look  to  Thee  for  grace ; 
Foul,  I  to  the  fountain  fly  ; 
Wash  me,  Saviour,  or  I  die. 


Gbe  ffiezt  Cburcb  Ibgmns. 


While  I  draw  this  fleeting  breath, 
When  my  eyelids  close  in  death, 
When  I  soar  to  worlds  unknown, 
See  Thee  on  Thy  judgment  throne, 
Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  Thee. 


This  hymn  properly  stands  first,  for  it  has  had  great 
power  over  the  minds  of  men.  Its  author  was  an  English 
clergyman,  the  Rev.  Augustus  Montague  Toplady,  born 
in  1740.  He  was  a  man  of  feeble  body  but  of  intense 
feelings,  and  earnestly  opposed  the  Methodist  movement 
in  the  Church  of  England  (see  under  No.  3).  The 
hymn  was  first  printed  at  the  end  of  an  article  in  the 
number  for  March,  1776,  of  the  Gospel  Magazine,  of 
which  Toplady  was  editor.     He  died  in  1778. 

[Notes.— Verse  1,  line  1.  Rock  of  Ages.  Isaiah  xxvi,  4, 
reads  (in  the  margin)  "Jehovah  is  the  rock  of 
ages."     Cleft  for  me.    See  Psalm  Ixxviii,  15. 

Verse  1,  line  2.     See  Exodus  xxxiii,  22. 

Verse  1,  line  3.    See  St.  John's  Gospel  xix,  34. 

Verse  4,  line  2.  Toplady  wrote  it,  "  When  my  eye- 
strings  hreak  in  death."  It  was  altered  in  1815 
by  Dr.  Cotterill,  the  editor  of  a  hymn-book.] 


Crucifixion  to  tbe  WLovlb  bs  tbe 
Cross  of  GbrisL  Gai.  vi,  i4. 

WHEN  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross 
On  which  the  Prince  of  glory  died, 
My  richest  gain  I  count  but  loss, 
And  pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride. 

4 


Gbe  Meet  Cbuvcb  1bv>mu5. 


2  Forbid  it,  Lord,  that  I  should  boast, 

Save  in  the  death  of  Christ  my  God  : 
All  the  vain  things  that  charm  me  most, 
I  sacrifice  them  to  His  blood. 

3  See,  from  His  head,  His  hands,  His  feet, 

Sorrow  and  love  flow  mingled  down  : 
Did  e'er  such  love  and  sorrow  meet, 
Or  thorns  compose  so  rich  a  crown  ? 

4  Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 

That  were  a  present  far  too  small  ; 
Love  so  amazing,  so  Divine, 

Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all. 


A  great  literary  critic  (Matthew  Arnold)  thought  this 
the  finest  hymn  in  the  English  language.  It  was  written 
by  Dr.  Isaac  Watts,  a  prominent  Independent  clergyman 
of  England;  born  1674,  died  174S.  Dr.  Watts  set 
himself  to  improve  the  character  of  the  hymns  used  in 
dissenting  churches.  In  1707-09  he  published  a  book 
containing  365  of  his  hymns,  of  which  this  is  one  ;  and 
in  1719  another  volume  of  free  versions  or  "  Imitations  " 
of  the  Psalms.  They  became  very  popular,  and  for  a 
long  time  no  other  hymns  than  those  of  Dr.  Watts  were 
sung  in  a  great  many  churches  in  England  and  this 
country.  He  is  often  called  "the  Father  of  English 
Hymnody. ' ' 

5 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  IbEmns. 


This  hymn  is  founded  on  the  text  in  Galatians  referred 
to  in  its  title.  The  thought  in  both  hymn  and  text  is 
that  "  worldliness  dies  in  my  heart  when  I  look  on  the 
world's  Maker  dead  for  me  on  the  cross." 

There  were  five  verses  in  the  hymn  as  Dr.  Watts  pub- 
lished it,  one  of  which  is  generally  omitted. 


•ffn  temptation. 

JESUS,  Lover  of  my  soul, 
Let  me  to  Thy  bosom  fly, 
While  the  nearer  waters  roll, 

While  the  tempest  still  is  high  : 
Hide  me,  O  my  Saviour,  hide, 

Till  the  storm  of  life  is  past ; 
Safe  into  the  haven  guide, 
O  receive  my  soul  at  last. 

Other  refuge  have  I  none  ; 

Hangs  my  helpless  soul  on  Thee  ; 
Leave,  ah  !  leave  me  not  alone, 

Still  support  and  comfort  me. 
All  my  trust  on  Thee  is  stayed, 

All  my  help  from  Thee  I  bring ; 
Cover  my  defenceless  head 

With  the  shadow  of  Thy  wing. 
6 


Gbe  $est  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


Wilt  Thou  not  regard  my  call  ? 

Wilt  Thou  not  accept  my  prayer  ? 
Lo,  I  sink,  I  faint,  I  fall  ! 

Lo,  on  Thee  I  cast  my  care  ; 
Reach  me  out  Thy  gracious  hand  ! 

While  I  of  Thy  strength  receive, 
Hoping  against  hope  I  stand, 

Dying,  and  behold  I  live  ! 

Thou,  O  Christ,  art  all  I  want ; 

More  than  all  in  Thee  I  find  : 
Raise  the  fallen,  cheer  the  faint, 

Heal  the  sick,  and  lead  the  blind. 
Just  and  holy  is  Thy  Name  ; 

I  am  all  unrighteousness  ; 
False  and  full  of  sin  I  am, 

Thou  art  full  of  truth  and  grace. 

Plenteous  grace  with  Thee  is  found, 

Grace  to  cover  all  my  sin  ; 
Let  the  healing  streams  abound  ; 

Make  and  keep  me  pure  within. 
Thou  of  life  the  Fountain  art, 

Freely  let  me  take  of  Thee  ; 
Spring  Thou  up  within  my  heart, 

Rise  to  all  eternity. 


Of  all  hymns  in  the  English  language  this,  no  doubt, 
is  loved  the  best.     It  was  written    in  1740  by  the  Rev. 


Gbe  rfSest  Cburcb  1b£mns. 


Charles  Wesley;  born  1707,  died  1788.  He  was  a 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  Methodist  movement,  in  which  his  brother 
John  was  the  leader,  and  out  of  which  all  the  Methodist 
churches  have  grown.  The  Wesleys  put  great  faith  in 
the  power  of  hymns  to  teach  religious  truths  to  the  people 
and  to  reach  their  hearts.  Charles  Wesley  wrote  more 
than  6000  hymns.  Some  were  printed  in  hymn-books 
to  be  sung  at  the  Methodist  meetings,  and  some  in  tracts 
to  be  read  and  committed  to  memory  at  home.  He  was 
among  the  greatest  of  all  hymn  writers,  and  many  of  his 
hymns  are  sung  in  all  branches  of  the  Church. 

[Note. — Verse  1,  line  3.  Nearer  waters.  '  In  a  wide  expanse 
of  waters  a  distant  part  may  be  lashed  into  fury 
by  a  passing  storm,  whilst  around  a  given  ship 
there  is  perfect  calm.  Or  the  nearer  waters  may 
be  affected,  while  the  distant  waters  are  sleeping 
in  the  silent  air.  In  life,  as  in  nature,  storms  are 
local.  And  men  cry  for  help,  not  against  distant 
dangers,  but  out  of  their  immediate  troubles. 
Their  life  is  amid  "  the  nearer  waters  "  of  tempta- 
tions, and  to  them  the  Lover  of  souls  is  indispen- 
sable.'   J.  Julian.] 


En  Evening  fbpmn. 

ALL   praise    to    Thee,   my    God,  this 
night, 
For  all  the  blessings  of  the  light ; 
Keep  me,  O  keep  me,  King  of  kings, 
Beneath  Thy  own  almighty  wings. 
8 


Gbe  ^Sest  Cburcb  Ibsmns. 


2  Forgive  me,  Lord,  for  Thy  dear  Son, 
The  ill  that  I  this  day  have  done  ; 
That  with  the  world,  myself,  and  Thee, 
I,  ere  I  sleep,  at  peace  may  be. 

3  Teach  me  to  live,  that  I  may  dread 
The  grave  as  little  as  my  bed  ; 

To  die,  that  this  vile  body  may 
Rise  glorious  at  the  awful  day. 

4  O  may  my  soul  on  Thee  repose, 

And  with  sweet  sleep  mine  eyelids  close  ; 
Sleep  that  may  me  more  vigorous  make 
To  serve  my  God  when  I  awake. 

5  When  in  the  night  I  sleepless  lie, 

My  soul  with  heavenly  thoughts  supply  ; 
Let  no  ill  dreams  disturb  my  rest, 
No  powers  of  darkness  me  molest. 

6  O  when  shall  I  in  endless  day 
For  ever  chase  dark  sleep  away, 
And  hymns  with  the  supernal  choir 
Incessant  sing,  and  never  tire  ! 


This  hymn,  as  also  No.  7,  was  written  more  than  two 
centuries  ago  by  Thomas  Ken.  He  was  born  in  1637, 
was  educated  at  Winchester  College  and  Oxford,  and 
became  a  clergyman.  We  do  not  know  just  when  he 
wrote  the  hymns,  but  he  printed  them  in  a  little  book  of 

9 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  1b£mns, 


prayers  he  made  for  the  scholars  at  Winchester.  Ken 
was  a  good  man  in  a  bad  time.  His  holy  life  shines  like 
"a  good  deed  in  a  naughty  world."  He  was  made 
Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells  by  King  Charles  II,  who 
respected  him  because  he  was  brave.  But  his  life  was 
filled  with  troubles  until  he  died  in  171 1.  His  morn- 
ing and  evening  hymns  still  live  in  millions  of  hearts. 
There  are  12  verses  in  all  in  this  hymn. 

[Notes.— Verse  1,  line  4.     See  Psalms  xvii,  8  ;  xxxvi,  7. 

Verse  3,  line  3.  Vile  body.  "  Vile  "  is  used  in  the 
older  sense  of"  held  in  little  esteem  "  (that  is,  as 
compared  with  the  "glorious"  resurrection  body). 

Verse  6,  line  3.     Supernal,  that  is,  heavenly.] 


5  "  %o  !  we  ba\>e  left  all,  ant)  f oU 
loweb  Ubee/' 

JESUS,  I  my  cross  have  taken, 
All  to  leave,  and  follow  Thee ; 
Destitute,  despised,  forsaken, 

Thou,  from  hence,  my  all  shalt  be  : 
Perish  every  fond  ambition, 

All  I've  sought,  or  hoped,  or  known  ; 
Yet  how  rich  is  my  condition, 

God  and  heaven  are  still  my  own. 

2  Man  may  trouble  and  distress  me, 
'Twill  but  drive  me  to  Thy  breast ; 
Life  with  trials  hard  may  press  me, 
Heaven  will  bring  me  sweeter  rest : 
10 


Cbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


O  'tis  not  in  grief  to  harm  me 
While  Thy  love  is  left  to  me  ; 

O  'twere  not  in  joy  to  charm  me, 
Were  that  joy  unmixed  with  Thee. 

Take,  my  soul,  thy  full  salvation, 

Rise  o'er  sin  and  fear  and  care  ; 
Joy  to  find  in  every  station 

Something  still  to  do  or  bear ; 
Think  what  Spirit  dwells  within  thee, 

What  a  Father's  smile  is  thine, 
What  a  Saviour  died  to  win  thee  : 

Child  of  heaven,  shouldst  thou  repine  ? 

Haste,  then,  on  from  grace  to  glory, 

Armed  by  faith,  and  winged  by  prayer  ; 
Heaven's  eternal  day's  before  thee, 

God's  own  hand  shall  guide  thee  there. 
Soon  shall  close  thy  earthly  mission  ; 

Swift  shall  pass  thy  pilgrim  days  ; 
Hope  soon  change  to  glad  fruition, 

Faith  to  sight,  and  prayer  to  praise. 


This  hymn  was  printed  as  early  as  1824,  in  six  verses; 
but  it  was  many  years  before  even  the  name  of  the 
author  was  known.  He  was  the  Rev.  Henry  Francis 
Lyte,  curate  of  an  English  parish  made  up  mostly  of 
fishermen  and  sailors,  and  himself  a  victim  of  consumption. 
II 


Qhe  :ft3est  Gbutcb  Ibsmns. 


But  now  every  one  knows  and  honors  his  name,  for  he 
wrote  not  only  this  beautiful  hymn  of  consecration,  but 
many  others,  and,  best  of  all,  "  Abide  with  me:  fast  falls 
the  eventide,"  (see  under  No.  9). 

[Note.— Verse  i,  line  1.    My  cross  have  taken.    See  St.  Mat- 
thew xvi,  24.] 


£  TSVeniWQ.      St.  Luke  xxiv,  29. 

SUN  of  my  soul,  Thou  Saviour  dear, 
It  is  not  night  if  Thou  be  near ; 
O  may  no  earth-born  cloud  arise 
To  hide  Thee  from  Thy  servant's  eyes. 

2  When  the  soft  dews  of  kindly  sleep 
My  wearied  eyelids  gently  steep, 

Be  my  last  thought,  how  sweet  to  rest 
For  ever  on  my  Saviour's  breast. 

3  Abide  with  me  from  morn  till  eve, 
For  without  Thee  I  cannot  live  ; 
Abide  with  me  when  night  is  nigh, 
For  without  Thee  I  dare  not  die. 

4  If  some  poor  wandering  child  of  Thine 
Have  spurned  to-day  the  voice  Divine, 
Now,  Lord,  the  gracious  work  begin  ; 
Let  him  no  more  lie  down  in  sin. 

12 


Gbe  Meet  Cburcb  tenuis. 


5  Watch  by  the  sick  ;  enrich  the  poor 
With  blessings  from  Thy  boundless  store  ; 
Be  every  mourner's  sleep  to-night, 
Like  infants'  slumbers,  pure  and  light. 

6  Come  near  and  bless  us  when  we  wake, 
Ere  through  the  world  our  way  we  take, 
Till  in  the  ocean  of  Thy  love 

We  lose  ourselves  in  heaven  above. 


In  1827  the  Rev.  John  Keble,  an  English  clergyman 
and  a  true  poet,  published  a  book  of  his  verses.  He 
called  it  "The  Christian  Year,"  because  it  had  a  poem 
for  each  Sunday  in  the  year,  and  for  all  other  days  and 
times  for  which  his  Church  appointed  services.  Our 
beautiful  and  familiar  hymn  is  taken  from  the  second 
poem  in  that  book,  called  "  Evening." 


H  /iDorntnG  f>2tnn. 

AWAKE,  my  soul,  and  with  the  sun 
Thy  daily  stage  of  duty  run  : 
Shake  off  dull  sloth,  and  joyful  rise 
To  pay  thy  morning  sacrifice. 

13 


tlbe  Meet  Cburcb  Ibsmns. 


2  Thy  precious  time  misspent  redeem  ; 
Each  present  day  thy  last  esteem  ; 
Improve  thy  talent  with  due  care  ; 
For  the  great  day  thyself  prepare. 

3  By  influence  of  the  light  Divine 
Let  thy  own  light  to  others  shine  ; 
Reflect  all  heaven's  propitious  rays 
In  ardent  love  and  cheerful  praise. 

4  Wake  and  lift  up'  thyself,  my  heart, 
And  with  the  angels  bear  thy  part, 
Who  all  night  long,  unwearied,  sing 
High  praise  to  the  Eternal  King. 

5  All  praise  to  Thee,  who  safe  has  kept, 
And  hast  refreshed  me  whilst  I  slept  : 
Grant,   Lord,   when   I   from   death   shall 

wake, 
I  may  of  endless  light  partake. 

6  Direct,  control,  suggest,  this  day, 
All  I  design,  or  do,  or  say  ; 

That  all  my  powers,  with  all  their  might, 
In  Thy  sole  glory  may  unite. 

7  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ; 
Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below ; 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host : 
Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

14 


Zbe  JBest  Cburcb  fb^mns. 


This  is  the  other  of  Bishop  Ken's  immortal  hymns, 
spoken  of  under  No.  4.  There  are  14  verses  in  all. 
The  last  verse  (it  is  the  last  verse  of  No.  4  also)  is  used 
separately  as  "  The  Long-metre  Doxology  "  and  isoftener 
sung  than  any  verse  in  the  language.  In  Harper 's  Maga- 
zine for  December,  1897,  Richard  Harding  Davis  gives 
an  account  of  its  splendid  effect  as  sung  at  the  Queen's 
Jubilee  open-air  service  before  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in 
London  in  June  of  that  year.  "  There  were  ten  thousand 
people  singing  '  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  ' 
as  loudly  as  they  could,  and  with  tears  running  down 
their  faces.  There  were  princesses  standing  up  in  their 
carriages,  and  black  men  from  the  Gold  Coast,  Mahara- 
jahs  from  India,  and  red-coated  Tommies,  and  young  men 
who  will  inherit  kingdoms  and  empires,  and  archbishops, 
and  cynical  old  diplomats,  and  soldiers  and  sailors  from 
the  '  land  of  the  palm  and  the  pine  '  and  from  the  Seven 
Seas,  and  women  and  men  who  were  just  subjects  of  the 
Queen  and  who  were  content  with  that.  There  was  prob- 
ably never  before  such  a  moment  in  which  so  many  races 
of  people,  of  so  many  castes,  and  of  such  different  values 
to  this  world,  sang  praises  to  God  at  one  time  and  in  one 
place  and  with  one  heart." 


8      Hytrin  for  Cbristmas^smp. 

HARK  !  the  herald  angels  sing, 
"  Glory  to  the  new-born  Kin^ 
Peace  on  earth,  and  mercy  mild, 
God  and  sinners  reconciled  !  " 


tlbc  JBest  Cburcb  1b^mns» 


Joyful,  all  ye  nations,  rise, 
Join  the  triumph  of  the  skies  ; 
With  the  angelic  host  proclaim, 
Christ  is  born  in  Bethlehem  !  " 

Hark  !  the  herald  angels  sing, 
"  Glory  to  the  new-born  King." 

Christ,  by  highest  heaven  adored ; 
Christ,  the  Everlasting  Lord  ! 
Late  in  time  behold  Him  come, 
Offspring  of  the  Virgin's  womb  : 
Veiled  in  flesh  the  Godhead  see ; 
Hail  the  Incarnate  Deity, 
Pleased  as  man  with  men  to  dwell, 
Jesus,  our  Emmanuel. 

Hark  !  the  herald  angels  sing, 
"  Glory  to  the  new-born  King." 

Hail,  the  heaven-born  Prince  of  Peace ! 
Hail,  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  ! 
Light  and  life  to  all  He  brings, 
Risen  with  healing  in  His  wings. 
Mild  He  lays  His  glory  by, 
Born  that  man  no  more  may  die, 
Born  to  raise  the  sons  of  earth, 
Born  to  give  them  second  birth. 
Hark  !  the  herald  angels  sing, 
"  Glory  to  the  new-born  King." 

16 


Zbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


In  1739  appeared  the  first  of  the  hymn-books  which 
the  Wesleys  prepared  for  the  Methodists  (see  under 
No.  3).  In  this  book  was  a  Christmas  hymn  by  Charles 
Wesley,  beginning  "  Hark,  how  all  the  welkin  rings." 
From  time  to  time  changes  were  made  in  the  hymn  by 
one  editor  and  another,  until  in  1810  it  took  the  form 
here  printed,  in  which  it  is  sung  in  so  many  churches  at 
Christmas  time. 

[Notes.— Verse  i,  line  1.    See  St.  Luke's  Gospel  ii,  14. 

Verse  2,  line  3.     Late  in  time.     See  Hebrews  i,  2. 
Verse  2,  line  8.     Emmanuel.     See  Isaiah  vii,  14.] 


9  "  HN&e  vvitb  us :  for  it  is  toward 
evening,  an&  tbe  fca£  is  far 

Spent/'      St.  Luke  xxiv,  29. 

ABIDE  with  me  :   fast  falls  the  even- 
tide; 
The  darkness  deepens ;    Lord,  with  me 

abide  : 
When  other  helpers  fail,  and  comforts  flee, 
Help  of  the  helpless,  O  abide  with  me. 

2  Swift  to  its  close  ebbs  out  life's  little  day  ; 
Earth's  joys  grow  dim,  its  glories  pass 

away ; 
Change  and  decay  in  all  around  I  see ; 
O  Thou  who  changest  not,  abide  with  me. 

17 


Gbe  Meet  Cburcb  1b£mns, 


3  I  need  Thy  presence  every  passing  hour  ; 
What  but  Thy  grace  can  foil  the  temp- 
ter's power? 

Who  like  Thyself  my  guide  and  stay  can 

be? 
Through   cloud  and   sunshine,   O  abide 

with  me. 

4  I  fear  no  foe,  with  Thee  at  hand  to  bless  : 
Ills  have  no  weight,  and  tears  no  bitter- 
ness. 

Where   is  death's   sting  ?    where,   grave, 

thy  victory  ? 
I  triumph  still,  if  Thou  abide  with  me. 

5  Hold  Thou  Thy  cross  before  my  closing 

eyes  ; 
Shine  through  the  gloom,  and  point  me 

to  the  skies : 
Heaven's    morning  breaks,   and  earth's 

vain  shadows  flee  : 
In  life,  in  death,  O  Lord,  abide  with  me. 


This  hymn  was  written  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Francis 
Lyte  (see  under  No.  5)  a  few  weeks  before  his  death, 
and  had  eight  verses  in  all.  His  daughter  tells  us  that 
on  September  4,  1847,  he  preached  for  the  last  time  in 
the  village  church,  having  been  ordered  to  a  warmer 
climate  as  his  only  chance  of  living  through  the  winter; 
and  on  the  evening  of  that  day  he  placed  the  hymn  in 
18 


Gbe  JBcst  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


the  hands  of  one  of  his  family.  It  is  the  prayer  of  one 
who  feels  the  night  of  death  closing  around  him,  and  is 
not  afraid  while  the  Master  stays  beside  him.  Mr.  Lyte 
died  at  Nice,  Italy,  on  the  20th  of  November  following. 


JO    G&e  ibeavenls  Jerusalem, 

Rev.  xxi  and  xxii. 

|  ERUSALEM,  my  happy  home, 
^      Name  ever  dear  to  me  ! 
When  shall  my  labors  have  an  end, 
In  joy  and  peace,  and  thee  ? 

2  When  shall  these  eyes  thy  heaven-built 

walls 
And  pearly  gates  behold  ? 
Thy  bulwarks  with  salvation  strong, 
And  streets  of  shining  gold  ? 

3  There  happier  bowrers  than  Eden's  bloom, 

Nor  sin  nor  sorrow  know  : 
Blest  seats  !    through   rude  and  stormy 
scenes 
I  onward  press  to  you. 

4  Why  should  I  shrink  at  pain  and  woe, 

Or  feel  at  death  dismay  ? 
I've  Canaan's  goodly  land  in  view. 
And  realms  of  endless  day. 

*9 


C  E  II  T  R  A  L     LIBRARY 

Board  of  Christian  Sducation       I 
Presbyterian  Church  -  Witherspoon  Building  j 


XZbe  JSest  Cburcb  'Ib^mns. 


5  Apostles,  martyrs,  prophets,  there 

Around  my  Saviour  stand  ; 
And  soon  my  friends  in  Christ  below 
Will  join  the  glorious  band. 

6  Jerusalem,  my  happy  home  ! 

My  soul  still  pants  for  thee  : 
Then  shall  my  labors  have  an  end, 
When  I  thy  joys  shall  see. 


At  the  British  Museum  in  London  there  is  a  manu- 
script book  as  old  as  Queen  Elizabeth's  time,  which  con- 
tains a  copy  of  a  hymn  beginning  like  this  one,  and  it 
bears  the  title  "  A  Song  Mad[e]  by  F:  B  :  P.  To  the 
tune  of  Diana."  Some  one  took  the  words  and  thoughts 
of  a  few  verses  out  of  the  old  hymn,  and  made  them  over 
into  this  hymn,  which  was  printed  about  1796  in  a  little 
hymn-book  for  the  use  of  Eckington  Church  in  England. 
James  Montgomery,  the  poet,  edited  the  little  hymn-book, 
and  very  likely  it  was  he  who  re-wrote  the  hymn. 


J  J        XTbe  IRame  of  3esus, 

Solomon's  Song  i,  3. 

HOW  sweet  the  Name  of  Jesus  sounds 
In  a  believer's  ear  ! 
It  soothes  his  sorrows,  heals  his  wounds, 
And  drives  away  his  fear. 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


2  It  makes  the  wounded  spirit  whole, 

And  calms  the  troubled  breast ; 
'Tis  Manna  to  the  hungry  soul, 
And  to  the  weary  Rest. 

3  Dear  Name  !  the  Rock  on  which  I  build, 

My  Shield  and  Hiding-place, 
My  never-failing  Treasury,  filled 
With  boundless  stores  of  grace ; 

4  By  Thee  my  prayers  acceptance  gain, 

Although  with  sin  defiled  ; 
Satan  accuses  me  in  vain, 
And  I  am  owned  a  child. 

5  Jesus,  my  Shepherd,  Brother,  Friend, 

My  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King, 
My  Lord,  my  Life,  my  Way,  my  End, 
Accept  the  praise  I  bring. 

6  Weak  is  the  effort  of  my  heart, 

And  cold  my  warmest  thought ; 
But  when  I  see  Thee  as  Thou  art, 
I'll  praise  Thee  as  I  ought. 

7  Till  then  I  would  Thy  love  proclaim 

With  every  fleeting  breath  ; 
And  may  the  music  of  Thy  Name 
Refresh  my  soul  in  death. 

21 


Gbe  JBeet  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


It  is  touching  to  think  that  this  hymn  (by  the  Rev. 
John  Newton),  so  filled  with  love  and  tender  reverence, 
was  written  by  one  whose  earlier  life  was  wild  and  prof- 
ligate, who  was  a  deserter  from  the  English  navy,  and 
then  engaged  in  the  slave-trade.  During  a  terrible  storm 
at  sea  he  turned  his  back  upon  that  old  life,  and  gave 
his  heart  to  Christ.  Returning  to  England  he  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  in  1764  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine, 
and  became  curate  of  the  village  of  Olney.  There  he 
became  intimate  with  the  poet  Cowper,  and  they  both 
wrote  hymns  to  be  sung  at  weekly  prayer  meetings  which 
Newton  held  in  an  empty  house.  In  1779,  348  of  these 
hymns  were  published  in  a  book  called  "  Olney  Hymns." 
280  of  them,  including  this  one,  were  by  Newton,  and 
68  were  by  Cowper.  Newton  lived  to  be  eighty-two 
years  old. 

[Note.— Verse  5,  line  1.    Brother.    Newton  wrote  it,  "  Hus- 
band."] 


J  2    Wearer,  m£  ©o&,  to  Ubee. 

NEARER,  my  God,  to  Thee, 
Nearer  to  Thee  ! 
E'en  though  it  be  a  cross 

That  raiseth  me  ; 
Still  all  my  song  shall  be, 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 
Nearer  to  Thee  ! 


Zbc  JBcst  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


Though  like  the  wanderer, 

The  sun  gone  down, 
Darkness  be  over  me, 

My  rest  a  stone  ; 
Yet  in  my  dreams  I'd  be 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee  ! 

There  let  the  way  appear, 

Steps  unto  heaven  : 
All  that  Thou  send'st  to  me 

In  mercy  given  : 
Angels  to  beckon  me 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee  ! 

Then,  with  my  waking  thoughts 
Bright  with  Thy  praise, 

Out  of  my  stony  griefs 
Bethel  I'll  raise  ; 

So  by  my  woes  to  be 

Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 
Nearer  to  Thee  ! 

Or  if  on  joyful  wing 

Cleaving  the  sky, 
Sun,  moon,  and  stars  forgot, 

Upwards  I  fly, 
Still  all  my  song  shall  be, 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee  ! 
23 


Gbe  Best  Gburcb  Ib^mns. 


An  English  lady,  Mrs.  Sarah  Flower  Adams,  wrote  this 
hymn  for  a  hymnal  published  by  her  pastor  in  1 841.  She 
was  a  good  woman,  who  wore  out  her  own  life  in  minister- 
ing to  an  afflicted  sister.  She  was  an  Unitarian,  which 
explains  why  the  hymn  does  not  appeal  to  Christ,  whom 
we  love  to  think  of  as  the  Way  to  God.  To  understand 
the  2d,  3d,  and  4th  verses,  it  is  necessary  to  know  the 
story  of  Jacob's  dream  as  told  in  Genesis  xxviii. 

[Notes.— Verse  1,  line  3.  A  cross.  The  cross  is  a  symbol 
of  suffering.  And  sometimes  God  uses  suffering 
to  draw  us  nearer  to  Him  by  making  us  feel  more 
humble  and  dependent  upon  Him. 
Verse  i,  line  5.  Shall.  Mrs.  Adams  wrote  here 
"would."] 


J  3  ^Before  a  Collection  mafce  for 
tbe  Society  for  tbe  iPropaaa* 
tton  of  tbe  (Bospel. 

FROM  Greenland's  icy  mountains, 
From  India's  coral  strand, 
Where  Afric's  sunny  fountains 

Roll  down  their  golden  sand, 
From  many  an  ancient  river, 
From  many  a  palmy  plain, 
They  call  us  to  deliver 

Their  land  from  error's  chain. 


Zbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


What  though  the  spicy  breezes 

Blow  soft  o'er  Ceylon's  isle  ; 
Though  every  prospect  pleases, 

And  only  man  is  vile  : 
In  vain  with  lavish  kindness 

The  gifts  of  God  are  strown  ; 
The  heathen  in  his  blindness 

Bows  down  to  wood  and  stone. 

Can  we,  whose  souls  are  lighted 

With  wisdom  from  on  high, 
Can  we  to  men  benighted 

The  lamp  of  life  deny  ? 
Salvation  !     O  salvation  ! 

The  joyful  sound  proclaim, 
Till  each  remotest  nation 

Has  learned  Messiah's  Name. 

Waft,  waft,  ye  winds,  His  story, 

And  you,  ye  waters,  roll, 
Till  like  a  sea  of  glory 

It  spreads  from  pole  to  pole  ; 
Till  o'er  our  ransomed  nature 

The  Lamb  for  sinners  slain, 
Redeemer,  King,  Creator, 

In  bliss  returns  to  reign. 


Reginald  Heber  (born  1783)  wrote  this  stirring  hymn 
one  Saturday  in  1819  for  a  missionary  service  to  be  held 
next  day  at  the  church  in  Wrexham,  England,  of  which 

25 


Gbe  Meet  Cburcb  IbEmns. 


his  father-in-law  was  pastor.  When  he  read  it  aloud, 
his  father-in-law  said,  "There,  that  will  do  very  well." 
And  it  has  done  very  well  ever  since.  Dr.  Theodore 
Cuyler  once  said  that  Heber  did  more  for  the  spread  of 
the  gospel  by  writing  this  hymn  than  if  he  had  founded 
a  Board  of  Missions.  It  is  only  one  of  many  good  hymns 
which  Heber  wrote.  He  was  afterwards  Bishop  of  Cal- 
cutta, where  he  did  noble  work  for  Christ  until  his  death 
in  1826. 

[Note. — Verse  3,  line  4.     The  lamp  of  life.    See  Isaiah  Ixii, 
1.    Deny.    See  Romans  x,  14.] 


J4   psalm  xc,  1*5*  jfttst  part, 
/iDan  jfrafl  anfc  ©o&  Eternal. 

OUR  God,  our  Help  in  ages  past, 
Our  Hope  for  years  to  come, 
Our  Shelter  from  the  stormy  blast, 
And  our  eternal  Home  : 

2  Under  the  shadow  of  Thy  throne 

Thy  saints  have  dwelt  secure ; 
Sufficient  is  Thine  arm  alone, 
And  our  defence  is  sure. 

3  Before  the  hills  in  order  stood, 

Or  earth  received  her  frame, 
From  everlasting  Thou  art  God, 
To  endless  years  the  same. 
26 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  1b£mns. 


4  A  thousand  ages  in  Thy  sight 

Are  like  an  evening  gone  ; 
Short  as  the  watch  that  ends  the  night 
Before  the  rising  sun. 

5  The  busy  tribes  of  flesh  and  blood, 

With  all  their  lives  and  cares, 
Are  carried  downwards  by  Thy  flood, 
And  lost  in  following  years. 

6  Time,  like  an  ever-rolling  stream, 

Bears  all  its  sons  away  : 
They  fly  forgotten,  as  a  dream 
Dies  at  the  opening  day. 

7  Our  God,  our  Help  in  ages  past ; 

Our  Hope  for  years  to  come  ; 
Be  Thou  our  Guard  while  troubles  last, 
And  our  eternal  Home. 


This  is  a  part  of  one  of  the  free  versions  or  ' '  Imita- 
tions "  of  the  Psalms  (see  under  No.  2),  which  Dr. 
Watts  published  in  1719.  It  is  one  of  the  very  best  of 
all  the  hymns  he  wrote.  To  understand  the  hymn,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  read  the  earliest  verses  of  the  90th 
psalm. 

27 


ftbe  Meet  Gburcb  Ibsmns. 


J  5      Jerusalem  tbe  (Bolfcem 

JERUSALEM  the  golden, 
*J      With  milk  and  honey  blest ! 
Beneath  thy  contemplation 

Sink  heart  and  voice  opprest. 
I  know  not,  O  I  know  not, 

What  joys  await  us  there  ; 
What  radiancy  of  glory, 

What  bliss  beyond  compare. 

2  They  stand,  those  halls  of  Zion, 

All  jubilant  with  song, 
And  bright  with  many  an  angel, 

And  all  the  martyr  throng. 
The  Prince  is  ever  in  them, 

The  daylight  is  serene  ; 
The  pastures  of  the  blessed 

Are  decked  in  glorious  sheen. 

3  There  is  the  throne  of  David ; 

And  there,  from  care  released, 
The  song  of  them  that  triumph, 

The  shout  of  them  that  feast ; 
And  they,  who  with  their  Leader 

Have  conquered  in  the  fight, 
For  ever  and  for  ever 

Are  clad  in  robes  of  white. 
28 


Cbe  ^Bcst  Cburcb  f^mna. 


O  mine,  my  golden  Zion  ! 

O  lovelier  far  than  gold  ! 
With  laurel-girt  battalions, 

And  safe,  victorious  fold  : 
O  sweet  and  blessed  country, 

Shall  I  ever  see  thy  face  ? 
O  sweet  and  blessed  country, 

Shall  I  ever  win  thy  grace  ? 


Exult,  O  dust  and  ashes, 

The  Lord  shall  be  thy  part : 
His  only  and  for  ever, 

Thou  shalt  be,  and  thou  art. 
Exult,  O  dust  and  ashes, 

The  Lord  shall  be  thy  part : 
His  only  and  for  ever, 

Thou  shalt  be,  and  thou  art. 


In  the  1 2th  century  Bernard,  a  monk  in  the  French 
Abbey  of  Cluny,  wrote  a  long  Latin  poem  which  con- 
trasted the  evils  of  the  world  with  the  happiness  and 
beauty  of  heaven.  An  English  clergyman,  Dr.  John 
Mason  Neale,  in  1S51  published  a  translation  of  400  lines 
of  the  poem,  and  from  this  the  verses  are  taken  which 
make  up  our  hymn.  Dr.  Xeale  lived  to  see  the  hymn 
become  the  most  popular  of  all  hymns  about  heaven. 
But  what  pleased  him  most  was  to  be  told  that  a  little 
child,  who  was  a  great  sufferer,  became  so  fond  of  the 
29 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  1by\nn&. 


verses  that  he  would  lie  "  without  a  murmur  or  motion, 
while  the  whole  400  lines  were  read  to  him." 

[Notes.— Verse   1,  line  1.      The  golden.     See    Revelation 

xxi,  18. 
Verse  1,  line  2.    See  Exodus  iii,  8. 
Verse  1,  line  6.     Neale  wrote  it,  "  What  social  joys 

are  there." 
Verse   i,   line  8.      What    bliss.     Neale  wrote  it, 

"  what  light." 
Verse  2,   line   2.     All  jubilant.     Neale  wrote  it, 

"conjubilant."     (None  of  these  changes  is  an 

improvement  over  what  Neale  wrote,  but  they 

are  generally  accepted  now.) 
Verse  3,  line  1.    See  Isaiah  ix,  7. 
Verse  5,  line   1.    Dust  and  ashes,   that   is,  man, 

who  was  formed  out  of  the  dust  and  whose  body 

shall  be  left  like  ashes  when  the  fire  is  out.    See 

Genesis  xviii,  27.] 


J 6        Xtbp  Iktn^om  Come! 

LO !  He  comes,  with  clouds  descending, 
Once  for  favored  sinners  slain  ; 
Thousand  thousand  saints  attending 
Swell  the  triumph  of  His  train  : 

Alleluia  ! 
God  appears  on  earth  to  reign. 

2   Every  eye  shall  now  behold  Him, 
Robed  in  dreadful  majesty  ; 
Those  who  set  at  naught  and  sold  Him, 
Pierced,  and  nailed  Him  to  the  Tree, 

Deeply  wailing, 
Shall  the  true  Messiah  see. 

30 


Cbe  JBcst  Cburcb  "Ib^mns. 


Every  island,  sea,  and  mountain, 
Heaven  and  earth,  shall  flee  away  ; 

All  who  hate  Him  must,  confounded, 
Hear  the  trump  proclaim  the  day  ; 

Come  to  judgment ! 
Come  to  judgment,  come  away  ! 


Now  Redemption,  long  expected, 
See  in  solemn  pomp  appear  ! 

All  His  saints,  by  man  rejected, 
Now  shall  meet  Him  in  the  air 

Alleluia  ! 
See  the  day  of  God  appear ! 


Answer  Thine  own  Bride  and  Spirit ; 

Hasten,  Lord,  the  general  doom ; 
The  new  heaven  and  earth  to  inherit 

Take  Thy  pining  exiles  home  : 
All  creation 

Travails,  groans,  and  bids  Thee  come. 


Yea,  Amen  !  let  all  adore  Thee, 
High  on  Thine  eternal  throne  : 

Saviour,  take  the  power  and  glory  ; 
Claim  the  kingdom  for  Thine  own 

O  come  quickly  ; 
Alleluia  !  come,  Lord,  come. 


Zhc  ^Seet  Cburcb  Ibsmns. 


Parts  of  three  separate  hymns  are  woven  together  in 
this.  In  1760  the  Rev.  Mr.  Madan  was  making  a  hymn- 
book  for  the  Church  of  England,  and  wished  a  hymn 
upon  the  second  coming  of  Christ.  He  took  these  1st, 
2d,  and  6th  verses  from  one,  and  the  5th  verse  from  an- 
other hymn  of  Charles  Wesley  (see  under  No.  3),  and  the 
3d  and  4th  from  a  hymn  by  John  Cennick  (see  under 
No.  29)  and  then  made  several  changes  in  them  before 
his  hymn  suited  him.  It  seems  like  a  strange  way  of 
making  a  hymn  ;  but  the  hymn  is  among  the  best  we  have 
on  the  subject. 

[Notes.— Verse  1,  line  1.    See  Revelation  i,  7. 

Verse  5,  line  1.    Bride  and  Spirit.    See  Revelation 

xxii,  17. 
Verse  6,  line  5.     O  come  quickly.    See  Revelation 

xxii,  20.] 


J  7  psalm  IxxtL   Seconb  part 
(Tbrist's  frtno&om  among  tbe 
Gentiles. 


J 


ESUS  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun 


Does  his  successive  journeys  run  ; 
His  kingdom  stretch  from  shore  to  shore 
Till  moons  shall  wax  and  wane  no  more. 

For  Him  shall  endless  prayer  be  made, 
And  praises  throng  to  crown  His  head  : 
His  Name,  like  sweet  perfume,  shall  rise 
With  every  morning  sacrifice  ; 

32 


ftbe  $est  Cburcb  Ibsmns. 


3  People  and  realms  of  every  tongue 
Dwell  on  His  love  with  sweetest  song  ; 
And  infant  voices  shall  proclaim 
Their  early  blessings  on  His  Name. 

4  Blessings  abound  where'er  He  reigns  ; 
The  prisoner  leaps  to  lose  his  chains, 
The  weary  find  eternal  rest, 

And  all  the  sons  of  want  are  blest. 

5  Let  every  creature  rise  and  bring 
Peculiar  honors  to  our  King, 
Angels  descend  with  songs  again, 
And  earth  repeat  the  loud  Amen. 


This  is  another  of  the  "  Imitations  "  of  the  Psalms 
which  Dr.  Watts  published  in  1719  (see  under  No.  2). 
An  incident  will  best  illustrate  the  meaning  of  the  hymn. 
One  day,  in  1862,  King  George  of  the  South  Sea  Islands 
was  to  give  a  new  constitution  to  his  people,  exchanging 
a  heathen  for  a  Christian  form  of  government.  "  Under 
the  spreading  branches  of  the  banyan  trees  sat  some  5000 
natives,  assembled  for  Divine  worship.  Foremost  among 
them  all  sat  King  George  himself.  Around  him  were 
seated  old  chiefs  and  warriors.  But  old  and  young  alike 
rejoiced  together  in  the  joys  of  that  day.  It  would  be 
impossible  to  describe  the  deep  feeling  manifested  when 
the  solemn  service  began  by  the  entire  assembly  singing 
the  hymn,  '  Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun.'     Who,  so 

33 


Zhc  JBest  Cburcb  1b£mns. 


much  as  they,  could  realize  the  meaning  of  the  poet's 
words  ?  For  they  had  been  rescued  from  the  darkness 
of  heathenism  and  cannibalism,  and  they  were  that  day 
met  for  the  first  time  under  a  Christian  constitution,  and 
with  Christ  himself  reigning  in  the  hearts  of  most  of 
them.  That  was  indeed  Christ's  kingdom  set  up  in  the 
earth." 


J  8    2* on,  or  tfoe  Cits  of  Got). 

Isaiah,  Chap,  xxxiii,  20,  21. 

GLORIOUS  things  of  thee  are  spoken, 
Zion,  city  of  our  God  ; 
He  whose  word  cannot  be  broken 

Formed  thee  for  His  own  abode  : 
On  the  Rock  of  Ages  founded, 

What  can  shake  thy  sure  repose  ? 
With  salvation's  walls  surrounded, 
Thou  mayst  smile  at  all  thy  foes. 

2  See,  the  streams  of  living  waters, 

Springing  from  eternal  Love, 
Well  supply  thy  sons  and  daughters, 

And  all  fear  of  want  remove  : 
Who  can  faint,  while  such  a  river 

Ever  flows  their  thirst  to  assuage  ? 
Grace,  which,  like  the  Lord  the  Giver, 

Never  fails  from  age  to  age. 

34 


Zbc  JBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


Round  each  habitation  hovering, 

See  the  cloud  and  fire  appear 
For  a  glory  and  a  covering, 

Showing  that  the  Lord  is  near  : 
Thus  deriving  from  their  banner 

Light  by  night,  and  shade  by  day, 
Safe  they  feed  upon  the  manna 

Which  He  gives  them  when  they  pray. 

Saviour,  if  of  Zion's  city 

I,  through  grace,  a  member  am, 
Let  the  world  deride  or  pity, 

I  will  glory  in  Thy  Name  : 
Fading  is  the  worldling's  pleasure, 

All  his  boasted  pomp  and  show  ; 
Solid  joys  and  lasting  treasure 

None  but  Zion's  children  know. 


This  is  another  of  the  hymns  which  the  Rev.  John 
Newton  published  in  "  Olney  Hymns"  (see  under  No. 
il).  The  poet  thinks  of  the  Church  of  Christ  as  a  great 
city  in  which  God  has  His  dwelling,  and  in  which  all 
Christians  are  fellow-citizens.  And  he  thanks  God  for 
the  privilege  and  honor  of  being  a  member  of  His  Church. 

[Notes. — Verse  i,  line  i.  Spoken.    See  Psalm  Ixxxvii,  3. 

Verse  1,  line  4.  His  own  abode.    See  Psalm  cxxxii, 

13,  H- 

Verse  1,  line  5.  Founded.    See  St.  Matthew  xvi, 

18. 

Verse  1,  line  7.  Surrounded.     See  Isaiah  xxvi,  1. 

Verse  2.  line  1.  Streams.     See  Psalm  xlvi,  4. 

Verse  3,  line  2.  Cloud  and  fire.    See  Isaiah  iv,  5, 


6-] 


35 


Gbe  3Best  Gburcb  Ib^mna, 


J  9     GbriSfS  flbCSSZQC,  from  Luke  iv,  18,  19. 

HARK,  the  glad  sound  !  the  Saviour 
comes, 
The  Saviour  promised  long  : 
Let  every  heart  prepare  a  throne, 
And  every  voice  a  song. 


2  On  Him  the  Spirit,  largely  poured, 

Exerts  its  sacred  fire  ; 
Wisdom  and  might,  and  zeal  and  love, 
His  holy  breast  inspire. 

3  He  comes,  the  prisoners  to  release 

In  Satan's  bondage  held  ; 
The  gates  of  brass  before  Him  burst, 
The  iron  fetters  yield. 

4  He  comes,  from  the  thick  films  of  vice 

To  clear  the  mental  ray, 
And  on  the  eye -balls  of  the  blind 
To  pour  celestial  day. 

5  He  comes,  the  broken  heart  to  bind, 

The  bleeding  soul  to  cure  ; 
And  with  the  treasures  of  His  grace 
To  enrich  the  humble  poor. 

36 


Gbe  JBest  Cburcb  fnjmns. 


Our  glad  hosannas,  Prince  of  Peace, 
Thy  welcome  shall  proclaim  ; 

And  heaven's  eternal  arches  ring 
With  Thy  beloved  Name. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  Doddridge  (born  1702,  died  1751) 
wrote  this  hymn,  but  it  was  never  printed  till  after  his 
death.  He  was  a  great  friend  of  Dr.  Watts,  and  wrote 
very  many  hymns,  of  which  this  perhaps  is  the  best.  It 
is  a  song  of  welcome  to  greet  the  coming  (advent)  of 
Christ  to  be  our  Saviour ; — just  as  if  the  poet  had  been 
present  in  the  Nazareth  Synagogue  when  Jesus  read  the 
prophet's  words  about  Himself,  and  the  poet  had  taken 
those  words  from  His  mouth  and  made  them  into  a  song. 
(See  St.  Luke  iv,  18,  19.) 


20  Cbrfst  Jesus  tbe  Xamb  of  (Bob, 
worsbippeb  bs  all  tbe  Cre* 
ation*    Rev.  v,  11, 12, 13. 

COME,  let  us  join  our  cheerful  songs 
With  angels  round  the  throne  ; 
Ten  thousand  thousand  are  their  tongues, 
But  all  their  joys  are  one. 

37 


Gbe  .iBest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


"  Worthy  the  Lamb  that  died,"  they  cry, 

"To  be  exalted  thus  :  " 
"Worthy  the  Lamb,"  our  lips  reply, 

"  For  He  was  slain  for  us." 


3  Jesus  is  worthy  to  receive 
Honor  and  power  Divine  ; 
And  blessings,  more  than  we  can  give, 
Be,  Lord,  for  ever  Thine. 


4  Let  all  that  dwell  above  the  sky, 
And  air,  and  earth,  and  seas, 
Conspire  to  lift  Thy  glories  high, 
And  speak  Thine  endless  praise. 


5  The  whole  creation  join  in  one, 
To  bless  the  sacred  Name 
Of  Him  that  sits  upon  the  throne, 
And  to  adore  the  Lamb. 


This  is  another  of  Dr.  Watts's  hymns  (see  under  No.  2). 
He  calls  upon  us  to  join  in  the  worship  of  the  angels 
about  God's  throne  in  heaven,  of  which  St.  John  tells  us 
in  the  verses  from  Revelation  referred  to  in  the  title  of  the 
hymn. 

3» 


Gbe  JSest  Cburcb  Ib^mns. 


2  \   On  tbe  iResurrectton— XTbe  Xorfc 
is  fttng. 

ALL  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  Name  ! 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall ; 
Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. 


2   Crown  Him,  ye  morning  stars  of  light, 
Who  fixed  this  floating  ball  ; 
Now  hail  the  strength  of  Israel's  might, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. 


3  Crown  Him,  ye  martyrs  of  your  God 

Who  from  His  altar  call ; 
Extol  the  Stem  of  Jesse's  rod, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. 

4  Ye  seed  of  Israel's  chosen  race, 

Ye  ransomed  of  the  fall, 
Hail  Him  who  saves  you  by  His  grace, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. 


5  Sinners,  whose  love  can  ne'er  forget 
The  wormwood  and  the  gall, 
Go,  spread  your  trophies  at  His  feet, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. 

39 


Zbc  $est  Cburcb  Ibgmns. 

6  Let  every  kindred,  every  tribe, 

On  this  terrestrial  ball, 
To  Him  all  majesty  ascribe, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. 

7  O  that  with  yonder  sacred  throng 

We  at  His  feet  may  fall  ; 
We'll  join  the  everlasting  song, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. 


This  is  often  called  "The  Coronation  Hymn."  It 
appeared  in  the  Gospel  Magazine  for  April,  1780,  and 
was  written  by  Edward  Perronet.  He  was  born  in  1726, 
was  brought  up  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  became 
one  of  John  Wesley's  helpers  (see  under  No.  3).  After- 
ward he  was  pastor  of  an  Independent  church  in  Canter- 
bury, where  he  died  in  1 792,  and  was  buried  in  the  clois- 
ters of  the  famous  Cathedral.  In  life  he  was  full  of  fire 
and  enthusiasm,  and  some  of  it  burns  yet  in  his  spirited 
hymn.  The  6th  verse,  as  almost  always  sung  now,  and 
as  printed  here,  was  a  good  deal  changed  from  what 
Perronet  wrote  by  an  editor,  Dr.  Rippon,  in  1787,  and  he 
added  this  7th  verse  to  the  hymn. 

[Notes. — Verse  3,  line  3.    See  Isaiah  xi,  1. 

Verse  5,  line  2.    See  Jeremiah  ix,  15.] 


40 


Gbe  ^3cst  Cburcb  Ibpmns. 


22    Gbe  iRctgn  of  Gbrist  on  Eartb, 

Psalm  lxxii. 

HAIL  to  the  Lord's  Anointed, 
Great  David's  greater  Son  ! 
Hail,  in  the  time  appointed, 

His  reign  on  earth  begun  ! 
He  comes  to  break  oppression, 

To  set  the  captive  free, 
To  take  away  transgression, 
And  rule  in  equity. 

2  He  shall  come  down  like  showers 

Upon  the  fruitful  earth  ; 
And  love,  joy,  hope,  like  flowers, 

Spring  in  His  path  to  birth  ; 
Before  Him  on  the  mountains 

Shall  peace,  the  herald,  go, 
And  righteousness,  in  fountains, 

From  hill  to  valley  flow. 

3  Kings  shall  fall  down  before  Him, 

And  gold  and  incense  bring  ; 
All  nations  shall  adore  Him, 

His  praise  all  people  sing  ; 
For  He  shall  have  dominion 

O'er  river,  sea,  and  shore, 
Far  as  the  eagle's  pinion 

Or  dove's  light  wing  can  soar. 

41 


Gbe  Meet  Cburcb  IbEmns. 


4  For  Him  shall  prayer  unceasing 

And  daily  vows  ascend  ; 
His  kingdom  still  increasing, 

A  kingdom  without  end  : 
The  mountain  dews  shall  nourish 

A  seed  in  weakness  sown, 
Whose  fruit  shall  spread  and  flourish, 

And  shake  like  Lebanon. 

5  O'er  every  foe  victorious, 

He  on  His  throne  shall  rest, 
From  age  to  age  more  glorious, 

All  blessing  and  all-blest : 
The  tide  of  time  shall  never 

His  covenant  remove, 
His  Name  shall  stand  for  ever, — 

That  Name  to  us  is  Love. 


James  Montgomery,  the  author  of  this  hymn,  was  born 

in  1 77 1,  and  was  for  many  years  editor  of  a  newspaper 

in  Sheffield,  England.      He  was  also  quite  celebrated  as 

a  poet.     His  poems  are  not  much  read  now,  but  some  of 

his  hymns  are  among  the  best  we  have.     This  one  was 

written  in   1821,  and    Montgomery  used   sometimes   to 

recite  it  at  the  close  of  a  speech  at  a  public  missionary 

meeting.     It  was  very  appropriate  at  such  a  time,  because 

like  the  72d  Fsalm  (of  which  it  is  an  imitation)  it  draws 

a  picture  of  the  glad  time  when  Christ's  kingdom  shall 

cover  all  the  earth. 

[Note.— Verse  4,  line  8.    Like  Lebanon,  that  is,  like  the  great 
trees  on  Mt.  Lebanon,  shaken  in  the  wind.] 

42 


Gbe  JBest  Gburcb  tb^mna. 


23  psalm  ctx>. 

O   WORSHIP    the  King  all  glorious 
above, 
O   gratefully  sing    His   power  and    His 

love  ; 
Our  Shield  and  Defender,  the  Ancient  of 

days, 
Pavilioned  in  splendor,  and  girded  with 
praise. 

2  O  tell  of  His  might,  O  sing  of  His  grace, 
Whose  robe  is  the  light,  whose  canopy 

space. 
His  chariots  of  wrath  the  deep  thunder- 
clouds form, 
And  dark  is  His  path  on  the  wings  of 
the  storm. 


3  The  earth  with  its  store  of  wonders  un- 
told, 

Almightv,  Thy  power  hath  founded  of 
old; 

Hath  established  it  fast  by  a  changeless 
decree, 

And  round  it  hath  cast,  like  a  mantle, 
the  sea. 

43 


Ebe  Best  Cburcb  Ultima. 


4  Thy    bountiful    care    what    tongue    can 

recite  ? 
It  breathes  in  the  air ;   it  shines  in  the 

light ; 
It  streams  from  the  hills  ;  it  descends  to 

the  plain  ; 
And  sweetly  distils  in  the  dew  and  the 

rain. 

5  Frail  children  of  dust,  and  feeble  as  frail, 
In  Thee  do  we  trust,  nor  find  Thee  to  fail  ; 
Thy  mercies  how  tender,  how  firm  to  the 

end, 
Our    Maker,    Defender,    Redeemer,   and 
Friend  ! 

6  O  measureless  Might !  Ineffable  Love  ! 
While  angels  delight  to  hymn  Thee  above, 
The  humbler  creation,  though  feeble  their 

lays, 
With   true  adoration  shall   lisp   to  Thy 
praise. 


This  hymn  gives  us  some  of  the  thoughts  about  God's 
greatness  and  love  that  are  contained  in  the  104th  Psalm. 
It  was  written  by  Sir  Robert  Grant,  who  in  1834  was 
appointed  English  Governor  of  Bombay  (India),  and 
died  there  in  1838. 

44 


Gbe  JBcst  Cburcb  togrnns. 


24      fornix  tor  3£aster*£>aE. 

<<f~^HRIST  the  Lord  is  risen  to-day, 

^-^  Sons  of  men  and  angels  say  : 
Raise  your  joys  and  triumphs  high  ; 
Sing,  ye  heavens,  and  earth,  reply. 


2  Vain  the  stone,  the  watch,  the  seal ; 
Christ  has  burst  the  gates  of  hell  : 
Death  in  vain  forbids  His  rise  ; 
Christ  has  opened  Paradise. 


3  Lives  again  our  glorious  King  : 
Where,  O  death,  is  now  thy  sting  ? 
Once  He  died,  our  souls  to  save  : 
Where  thy  victory,  O  grave  ? 


4  Soar  we  now  where  Christ  has  led, 
Following  our  exalted  Head  : 
Made  like  Him,  like  Him  we  rise  ; 
Ours  the  cross,  the  grave,  the  skies. 


5   Hail  the  Lord  of  earth  and  heaven  ! 
Praise  to  Thee  by  both  be  given  : 
Thee  we  greet  triumphant  now  : 
Hail,  the  Resurrection  Thou  ! 

45 


Zbe  JBest  Cburcb  fining. 


This  is  a  part  of  one  of  the  hymns  of  Charles  Wesley, 

and   was   printed   in   the  same-  book   as   his  Christmas 

Hymn,  No.  8. 

[Notes.— Verse  3,  line  3.    Wesley  wrote  it,  "  Dying  once  He 
all  doth  save." 
Verse  5,  line  4.      The  Resurrection  Thou  !    See  St. 
John's  Gospel  xi,  25.     "Jesus  said  unto  her,  I 
am  the  resurrection."] 


25      Ptaptna  tor  Strength 

GUIDE  me,  O  Thou  Great  Jehovah, 
Pilgrim  through  this  barren  land ; 
I  am  weak,  but  Thou  art  mighty, 
Hold  me  with  Thy  powerful  hand  : 

Bread  of  heaven, 
Feed  me  till  I  want  no  more. 

2  Open  now  the  crystal  fountain, 

Whence  the  healing  stream  doth  flow  ; 
Let  the  fire  and  cloudy  pillar 

Lead  me  all  my  journey  through  : 

Strong  Deliverer, 
Be  Thou  still  my  Strength  and  Shield. 

3  When  I  tread  the  verge  of  Jordan, 

Bid  my  anxious  fears  subside  ; 
Death  of  deaths  and  hell's  Destruction, 
Land  me  safe  on  Canaan's  side : 

Songs  of  praises 
I  will  ever  give  to  Thee. 
46 


Cbe  JBest  Cburcb  Ibvmns. 


This  hymn  was  first  written  in  the  Welsh  language  by 
the  Rev.  William  Williams,  a  clergyman  of  Wales,  and 
was  printed  in  his  Book  of  Hymns  in  1745.  About 
twenty-seven  years  afterward  he  printed  this  English 
version  of  his  hymn,  the  first  verse  of  it  made  by  his 
brother,  the  other  verses  by  himself.  The  writer  thinks 
of  our  life  as  a  march  across  the  desert  to  the  better 
land,  like  that  journey  of  the  Israelites  of  which  we  read 
in  Exodus  ;  and  he  thinks  of  God  as  leading  us  and  feed- 
ing us  now  as  He  did  His  people  then. 

[Notes. — Verse  i,  line  5.  Bread  of  heaven.  See  Exodus 
xvi,  14,  15,  and  St.  John's  Gospel  vi,  31-35. 

Verse  2,  lines  1,  2.     See  Exodus  xvii,  6. 

Verse  3,  line  3.  "  Death  of  deaths,  and  hell's 
Destruction.1"  These  words  are  titles  given  to 
God :  He  can  put  an  end  to  the  power  of  death 
and  of  hell.] 


26  "ttim  tbat  cometb  unto  me,  1T  will 
In  no  wise  cast  out"  John  vi,  37. 

JUST  as  I  am,  without  one  plea 
But  that  Thy  blood  was  shed  for  me, 
And  that  Thou  bidd'st  me  come  to  Thee, 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 

2  Just  as  I  am,  and  waiting  not 
To  rid  my  soul  of  one  dark  blot, 
To  Thee,  whose  blood  can  cleanse  each 
spot, 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 

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Gbe  Best  Cburcb  Ibsmns. 


3  Just  as  I  am,  though  tossed  about 
With  many  a  conflict,  many  a  doubt, 
Fightings  and  fears  within,  without, 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 


4  Just  as  I  am,  poor,  wretched,  blind 
Sight,  riches,  healing  of  the  mind, 
Yea,  all  I  need,  in  Thee  to  find, 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 


5  Just  as  I  am  !  Thou  wilt  receive, 
Wilt  welcome,  pardon,  cleanse,  relieve 
Because  Thy  promise  I  believe, 

O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 

6  Just  as  I  am  !  Thy  love  unknown 
Has  broken  every  barrier  down  ; 
Now,  to  be  Thine,  yea,  Thine  alone, 

O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 


The  authoress  of  this  hymn,  Miss  Charlotte  Elliott,  of 
Brighton,  England,  was  born  in  1789,  and  was  an  invalid 
nearly  all  her  life  till  her  death  in  1871.  This  is  one  of 
several  hymns  she  wrote  for  a  little  book  she  made  in 
1836,  intended  to  help  and  comfort  other  sick  people. 
She  never  dreamed  that  it  would  come  to  be  loved  by 
everybody. 

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£be  Meet  Cburcb  1b£mns. 


27  Xtgbt  Sbining  out  ot  Bareness. 

GOD  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 
His  wonders  to  perform  ; 
He  plants  His  footsteps  in  the  sea, 
And  rides  upon  the  storm. 

2  Deep  in  unfathomable  mines 

Of  never-failing  skill 
He  treasures  up  His  bright  designs, 
And  works  His  sovereign  will. 

3  Ye  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  take  ; 

The  clouds  ye  so  much  dread 
Are  big  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 
In  blessings  on  your  head. 

4  Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense, 

But  trust  Him  for  His  grace  ; 
Behind  a  frowning  providence 
He  hides  a  smilinsr  face. 

5  His  purposes  will  ripen  fast, 

Unfolding  every  hour  ; 
The  bud  may  have  a  bitter  taste, 
But  sweet  will  be  the  flower. 

6  Blind  unbelief  is  sure  to  err, 

And  scan  His  work  in  vain  ; 
God  is  His  own  Interpreter, 
And  He  will  make  it  plain. 

49 


Cbe  JSest  Cburcb  Ib^mne. 


The  famous  poet  William  Cowper  (born  1731 ,  died 
1800)  wrote  this  hymn  straight  from  the  heart.  It  was 
first  printed  in  1774  in  a  little  book  of  "  Letters  on 
Religious  Subjects,"  which  Cowper' s  friend,  John  New- 
ton, published  while  they  were  living  together  at  Olney 
(see  under  No.  11).  There  are  times  in  the  life  of  every 
one  when  the  ways  of  God's  providence  seem  dark  and 
hard  to  understand.  But  Cowper's  lot  was  made  particu- 
larly hard  by  brain  trouble  which  made  him  subject  to 
fits  of  insanity.  Under  the  shadow  of  one  of  these 
dreadful  attacks  he  wrote  this  hymn  of  trust  in  God's 
providence. 


28  ^be  flDost  1bolp  IRame  of  5esus, 

JESUS,  the  very  thought  of  Thee 
With  sweetness  fills  my  breast ; 
But  sweeter  far  Thy  face  to  see, 
And  in  Thy  presence  rest. 

2  Nor  voice  can  sing,  nor  heart  can  frame, 

Nor  can  the  memory  find, 
A  sweeter  sound  than  Thy  blest  Name, 
O  Saviour  of  mankind. 

3  O  Hope  of  every  contrite  heart, 

O  Joy  of  all  the  meek, 
To  those  who  fall,  how  kind  Thou  art ! 
How  good  to  those  who  seek  ! 

50 


Sbe  JBest  Gburcb  "tb^mns. 


But  what  to  those  who  find  ?     Ah,  this 
Nor  tongue  nor  pen  can  show  : 

The  love  of  Jesus,  what  it  is 
None  but  His  loved  ones  know. 


5  Jesus,  our  only  Joy  be  Thou, 
As  Thou  our  Prize  wilt  be  ; 
Jesus,  be  Thou  our  Glory  now, 
And  through  eternity. 


Like  No.  15,  this  hymn  is  translated  from  the  Latin, 
and  the  original  of  this,  as  of  that,  was  written  by  a 
monk,  and  the  name  of  the  writer  of  each  was  the  same, — 
Bernard.  But  the  other  Bernard  was  an  obscure  monk 
in  the  Abbey  of  Cluny,  while  the  writer  of  this,  Bernard 
of  Clairvaux  (born  1091,  died  1 153),  was  head  of  the 
Abbey  of  that  name,  an  orator,  scholar,  and  statesman, 
and  indeed  one  of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  the 
history  of  the  middle  ages.  He  had  beautiful  thoughts 
in  his  heart,  and  expressed  some  of  them  in  lovely  hymns. 
These  five  verses  are  from  a  translation  of  his  hymn  upon 
the  Name  of  Jesus,  made  by  the  Rev.  Edward  Caswall 
in  1849.  Caswall  was  then  a  clergyman  in  the  Church 
of  England,  but  in  the  next  year  joined  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 


51 


Zbe  $est  Cburcb  Ibgmns. 


29  H  fornix  for  tbe  Gbtl&ren  of  (Bofc 
in  tbe  Ba^s  of  tbeir  pilgrimage, 

CHILDREN  of  the  heavenly  King, 
As  ye  journey,  sweetly  sing  ; 
Sing  your  Saviour's  worthy  praise, 
Glorious  in  His  works  and  ways. 

2  We  are  travelling  home  to  God 
In  the  way  the  fathers  trod  ; 
They  are  happy  now,  and  we 
Soon  their  happiness  shall  see. 

3  Shout,  ye  little  flock  and  blest ; 
Ye  on  Jesus'  throne  shall  rest  ; 
There  your  seat  is  now  prepared, 
There  your  kingdom  and  reward. 

4  Lift  your  eyes,  ye  sons  of  light, 
Zion's  city  is  in  sight ; 
There  our  endless  home  shall  be, 
There  our  Lord  we  soon  shall  see. 

5  Fear  not,  brethren  ;  joyful  stand 
On  the  borders  of  your  land  ; 
Jesus  Christ,  your  Father's  Son, 
Bids  you  undismayed  go  on. 

52 

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£be  JBest  Cburcb  Ibgmns. 


6   Lord,  obediently  we  go, 
Gladly  leaving  all  below  ; 
Only  Thou  our  Leader  be, 
And  we  still  will  follow  Thee. 


The  author  of  this  hymn  was  the  Rev.  John  Cennick, 
born  1718.  He  was  at  one  time  a  helper  of  the  Wesleys 
in  the  Methodist  meetings  (see  under  No.  3),  and  after- 
ward a  clergyman  in  the  Moravian  Church.  He  pub- 
lished this  in  1742  with  many  other  hymns,  and  died  at 
the  early  age  of  thirty-eight  years.  It  is  pleasant  to  think 
of  him  as  safely  home,  while  we  travelers  sing  his  cheer- 
ful hymn. 


30    H  ©rospect  of  Ibeaven  makes 
2>eatb  2£as£* 

'"THERE  is  a  land  of  pure  delight, 
*       Where  saints  immortal  reign  ; 
Infinite  day  excludes  the  night, 
And  pleasures  banish  pain. 

2  There  everlasting  spring  abides, 
And  never-withering  flowers  ; 
Death,  like  a  narrow  sea,  divides 
This  heavenly  land  from  ours. 

53 


Gbe  JBest  Cbuccb  Ibgmne. 


3  Sweet  fields  beyond  the  swelling  flood 

Stand  dressed  in  living  green  ; 
So  to  the  Jews  old  Canaan  stood, 
While  Jordan  rolled  between. 

4  But  timorous  mortals  start  and  shrink 

To  cross  this  narrow  sea  ; 
And  linger,  shivering,  on  the  brink, 
And  fear  to  launch  away. 

5  O  could  we  make  our  doubts  remove, 

Those  gloomy  doubts  that  rise, 
And  see  the  Canaan  that  we  love 
With  unbeclouded  eyes ; 

6  Could  we  but  climb  where  Moses  stood, 

And  view  the  landscape  o'er, 
Not  Jordan's   stream,   nor   death's   cold 
flood, 
Should  fright  us  from  the  shore. 


Another  hymn  by  Dr.  Watts  (see  under  No.  2)  ;  one 
of  the  first  he  wrote,  but  published  with  the  others 
in  1707.  This  hymn  carries  forward  the  thought  of  No. 
25.  God  has  led  now  the  children  of  Israel  all  the  way 
to  the  river  Jordan,  which  alone  separates  them  from  the 
promised  land ;  and  they  should  not  be  afraid  that  He 
will  not  take  them  safely  across,  nor  fear  to  step  into  the 

54 


Zbc  West  Gburcb  "fosmns, 


waters.  And  the  crossing  of  Jordan  has  been  ever  since 
an  image  of  the  Christian's  death,  and  Canaan  an  image 
of  heaven.  We  need  not  be  afraid  of  death,  while  we 
look  toward  heaven. 

[Notes.— Verse  3,  line  4.  Jordan  rolled  between.  See  Joshua 
iii,  1. 
Verse  6,  line  1.  Where  Moses  stood.  See  Deuter- 
onomy xxxiv,  1-4. 
Verse  6,  line  3.  This  line  is  not  very  clearly  ex- 
pressed. The  meaning  is,  "  Not  Jordan's  stream 
(that  is  to  say,  not  death's  cold  flood.)  "] 


3  J         /HMssionars  fn?mn, 

THOU,  whose  almighty  word 
Chaos  and  darkness  heard, 
And  took  their  flight, 
Hear  us,  we  humbly  pray  ; 
And,  where  the  gospel's  day 
Sheds  not  its  glorious  ray, 
Let  there  be  light. 

2  Thou,  who  didst  come  to  bring 
On  Thy  redeeming  wing 

Healing;  and  sight, 
Health  to  the  sick  in  mind, 
Sight  to  the  inly  blind, 
O  now  to  all  mankind 

Let  there  be  light. 

55 


£be  $est  Cburcb  1b£mns. 


Spirit  of  truth  and  love, 
Life-giving,  holy  Dove, 

Speed  forth  Thy  flight ; 
Move  o'er  the  waters'  face 
Bearing  the  lamp  of  grace, 
And  in  earth's  darkest  place 

Let  there  be  light. 

Holy  and  blessed  Three, 
Glorious  Trinity, 

Wisdom,  Love,  Might ! 
Boundless  as  ocean's  tide 
Rolling  in  fullest  pride 
Through  the  world,  far  and  wide, 


Let  there  be  light. 


This  hymn  was  written  about  1813  by  the  Rev.  John 
Marriott,  pastor  of  a  country  church  in  England.  In 
Genesis  i,  ii,  and  iii,  we  are  told  how  the  Spirit  of  God 
moved  over  the  waters,  before  the  earth  had  taken  shape, 
and  how  God's  voice  called  through  the  dark,  "  Let  there 
be  light."  And  now  the  poet  prays  that  God  will  send 
His  Holy  Spirit  with  the  light  of  Christ's  gospel  to  all 
places  in  the  world  that  are  dark  with  sin  and  shame. 

[Note.— Verse  4,  line  1.     Marriott  wrote  this  line,  "  Elessed, 
and  holy,  and."] 


56 


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32  JQSrief  Xife  is  toere  our  portion, 

BRIEF  life  is  here  our  portion, 
Brief  sorrow,  short-lived  care  ; 
The  life  that  knows  no  ending, 
The  tearless  life,  is  there. 


2  O  happy  retribution  ! 

Short  toil,  eternal  rest ; 
For  mortals  and  for  sinners 
A  mansion  with  the  blest ! 


3  And  now  we  fight  the  battle, 

But  then  shall  wear  the  crown 
Of  full  and  everlasting 
And  passionless  renown ; 

4  And  now  we  watch  and  struggle, 

And  now  we  live  in  hope, 
And  Zion  in  her  anguish 
With  Babylon  must  cope  ; 


But  He,  whom  now  we  trust  in, 
Shall  then  be  seen  and  known  ; 

And  they  that  know  and  see  Him 
Shall  have  Him  for  their  own. 

57 


Zbe  Meet  Cburcb  Ibgmne. 


6  The  morning  shall  awaken, 

And  shadows  shall  decay, 
And  each  true-hearted  servant 
Shall  shine  as  doth  the  day. 

7  Yes,  God,  my  King  and  Portion, 

In  fulness  of  His  grace, 
We  then  shall  see  for  ever, 
And  worship  face  to  face. 


This,  the  last,  but  certainly  not  the  least  beautiful,  of 
our  thirty  two  hymns,  was  not  written  as  a  separate  and 
complete  hymn.  It  consists  of  verses  taken  from  Dr. 
Neale's  translation  of  the  poem  of  Bernard,  from  which 
"  Jerusalem  the  Golden  "  also  was  taken,  and  which  is 
described  under  that  hymn,  No.  15. 

[Notes. — Verse  2,  line  1.  Retribution.  The  word  is  rightly 
used,  as  here  to  refer  to  the  distribution  of 
rewards  in  the  next  life,  as  well  as  of  punish- 
ments. 

Verse  4,  lines  3  and  4.  Zion  is  the  Church  of  God 
in  the  world,  and  Babylon  stands  for  the  powers 
of  worldliness  that  contend  against  the  Church. 

Verse  6,  line  1.     This  line  is  slightly  altered.] 


58 


